Homes for Autism

It seems every few years the authorities reestimate the statistics for autism. Recently, the numbers were moved up to be one in 88 children (1 in 58 for boys) will develop some form of autism; up from one in 150 (which was scary enough). The focus of most efforts to deal with this is children, but those living with autism do not remain children; they have every chance of living as long a life expectancy as any other individual.

Homes for Autism has steps into the void that exists once an individual with autism comes of age. This organization currently supplies homes for adults with autism; their logo, above, was designed to illustrate this focus. In the future, they plan to also offer respite care.

Homes For Autism works with new families to set up new homes. This process includes working with families and County Community Mental Health organizations to find homes that meet clients’ unique needs, negotiating leases and enabling the residence to be a good neighbor to the community.

Homes for Autism provides initial home down payments to buy the home and becomes a financial partner with residential families to ensure the success of clients in this living situation. The organization also takes responsibility for the maintenance of existing homes. The goal is to establish homes that will be self-supported.

Recently, Homes for Autism entered into a partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County, which established a sixth house for adults with autism in Waterford. Homes For Autism also partnered with Christ The Redeemer church in Orion Township to renovate the house. The church had its 17th year of fund raisers for Habitat and this year its beneficiary was Homes For Autism.

The Waterford house is a 3 bedroom 1 ½ bath in a residential community. Three adults will live there with 24/7 care. Occupancy is expected in November.

Homes for Autism relies in large part on substantial contributions from from interested individuals and generous corporations to continue to provide its housing needs. A recent Oakland Press article highlighted the contribution of AT&T.

Senator Jim Marleau (from left), Bill Schramm, Lori Doughty and Senator Dave Robertson hold a $5,000 check donated by AT&T to organization Homes for Autism. Submitted by Nick DeLeeuw (from the Oakland Press article).

Currently, Homes for Autism has a paid staff of only one: the Executive Director, Anne Gerard. Volunteers are an important resource to Homes for Autism’s work helping out with residential home health care providers and the families supported by the organization.

For more information on Homes for Autism, and to learn how you can become involved and support their work, click here.

Home page: www.homesforautism.org

Homes for Autism Mission Statement:

Homes for Autism provides and maintains houses for adults with autism and developmental disabilities.

Homes for Autism exists to help people with autism achieve their best and to live and grow towards a better quality of life. We specialize in creative solutions to meet the needs of the people we serve and their families.

b.h.d.

It is an unfortunate truth that within the city of Detroit there remain many neighborhoods with too many blighted elements. Sometimes there is also a cadre of persons, many young, that do not see a reason to respect others’ property or question the impact of their action on the community at large.

In the Lindale Gardens community, in northeast Detroit near State Fair Road and I-75, a group and a concept has evolved to meet these challenges, b.h.d.: Bleeding Heart Design. b.h.d. has a goal to use “human-centered design methods to inspire people to become more altruistic by using public art, design and architecture as a conduit for social change.”

    

Images of the same storefront transformed in the Lindale Gardens neighborhood by b.h.d.

The above installation was created to influence community residents to think more altruistically; to consider others’ needs as well as their own as the go about their daily lives. It is a good example of the type of projects executed by b.h.d.

Titled: The We Need Wall, the meaning of the word “We” is left up to interpretation. Those that witness actually see the expressed needs of individuals and their community. The hope is that people who see this wall, and particularly those who interact with it, will begin to think more selflessly.

The stated purpose of b.h.d. is to evoke positive emotions and thoughts from those who live near or randomly encounter the group’s design projects. By stimulating such reactions, it is hoped that negative or malicious behaviors will be demoted and self-evaluation of an individual’s role in society will be promoted. In other words, b.h.d. exercises a design philosophy that actively advocates a “pay it forward” atmosphere in participating comunities.

    

b.h.d. created a community meeting place out of an abandoned field.    (photo by Fares Ksebati)

The organization has larger plans as well. The “Bleeding Heart Nexus” includes such concepts as a time bank and a network of individuals who are committed to common goals of community care and attention. The BHN would connect people, organizations, businesses and institutions while laying bare the interdependence between them all.

To learn more about the work of b.h.d. and the evolving plans of the BHN please visit bleedingheartdesign.org and follow @BHD_Detroit.