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 JOE WYKOWSKI
website: www.cvision.org
phone: 503.292.4964
Home Ownership
Community Visions
We began by jumping in with one person and his family. Both the person and his family had a very negative reputation with the service system and were seen as very difficult (if not impossible) to serve. His family was insistent that he could only be served in the institution. By listening closely, and responding honestly we built a relationship based on our belief thatwe could trust the person and his family to figure out what would work best for them and that we could trust ourselves to play a positive long term role in the person and family's life. The person and the family did come to trust us and we figured out ways to significantly decrease the person's dangerous behavior and to support him and his family to live well for the years of life that remained to him (both he and his sister died from a degenerative neurological condition). Along the way we discovered great strength and caring in the person and in his "impossible" parents.
We have grown and now support 36 people in their own homes and 15 people in their jobs. Most people need support 24 hours a day.
What's Important for Community Visions
* People with disabilities deserve to have homes that are truly their own "turf". For a growing number of people this means actually owning their home. For everyone it means being in control of where they live, who -if anyone- they live with, and who helps them out and how. Part of this is being in charge of the money available for support through an individual budget.
* We feel privledged that people and their families have cosen to offer us employment doing work that we believe is truly important. Our job is to stand with each person, one person at a time, and help them figure out, pay for, and maintain what's important to them in life.
* No one has to be "ready for" a decent home and something meaningful to do. It's our job to start from where the person is and make it happen.
* There are many resources available to help people with developmental disabilities own their own homes. It's possible to find not just money but practical help in the community (for example members of the Blazers helped one person with landscaping). While home ownership isn't for everyone, it's an important option and it's our job to know what resources are available now and to work to expand them.
* We still have a lot to learn about helping people increase their money assets. Buying a home is a start, but we know that there are many more ways to increase people's wealth.
* We have a lot to learn about community building and helping people build and strengthen their relationships.
* We are in it for the long-term with people.
* What really satisfies us is playing a part in people living their dreams.
Home Ownership Invests in Community!
Owning a home is a natural tie-in to providing individual support to people with disabilities. Providing a permanent place to live with a fixed mortgage payment offers security from rent increases; independence, and pride of ownership. People become taxpayers and contributors to their communities.
Did you know...
...that less than 35% of people with disabilities are homeowners, compared, to a national average of 65%.
...new initiatives in Oregon provide funding for individual services versus group living.
The Independence Project assists people with disabilities to purchase homes.
* All individuals must have median income of 80% or less in accordance with HUD guidelines. Please call for further clarification.
* A support team of friends and professionals will assist each person to assure pre- and post-purchase success. This model is based on the National Home of Your Own Alliance (NHOYO) which has seen zero foreclosures from over 1000 home buyers.
* The home purchases will occur throughout Portland Metropolitan Area. Sources of down payment assistance include the Portland Development Commission's Shared Appreciation Mortgage, the City of Gresham Shared Appreciation Mortgage, and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle, in conjunction with Washington Mutual. In addition, the Fannie Mae Home Choice mortgage product will be used when appropriate to qualify homebuyers.
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