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.

Preservation Detroit

In 1701, Antoine de La Mothe Cadillac and fifty-one other brave souls landed on the shores of the strait of Lake Erie. As a tip of hat to Louis XIV’s Minister of Marine, they named their new settlement Fort Ponchartrain du Détroit.

313 years have transpired; that’s a lot of history, a lot stuff built and occurred in a unique pocket of the planet along a shore of the largest freshwater inland sea in the world. It would be hard enough to keep track of all of that and hold tight to the important stuff but the current state of affairs makes it even harder to even catalog what we have and prioritize what can and should be preserved.

Luckily, in 1975 two Wayne State University (WSU) students formed a student organization, named Preservation Wayne, to fight the demolition of historic WSU buildings. Eventually Preservation Wayne evolved into Preservation Detroit and is headquartered in its first successful saved building, the David Mackenzie house.

The mission of Preservation Detroit is preserve and revitalize Detroit’s rich architectural and cultural heritage. Through education and advocacy, research and awareness, Preservation Detroit seeks to preserve the architectural elements and neighborhoods. This includes the redevelopment of Detroit through the restoration and re-use of the irreplaceable buildings and historic neighborhoods that serve as anchors for stability of residential areas and catalysts for economic investment.

“Detroit is one of the most architecturally rich cities in America, and historic preservation has been a huge part of the story of Detroit’s recent resurgence,” says Amy Elliott Bragg, president of Preservation Detroit’s board of directors. “People want to live in cities that have character, places that have stories to tell. Our job in Detroit is to protect that character and those stories.”

In the US, we don’t always have enough appreciation for the history we have here. In Europe, they still live in homes built during the reign of Louis XIV, here we too often are willing to sacrifice what was built by those who came before in deference to the new and shiny. Luckily, we have groups like Preservation Detroit that are willing to look out for those treasures and teach us their value.

To learn more about Preservation Detroit, visit their web site at perservationdetroit.org.

Pushing Forward

Just wanted to update the blog this week. Personally, I have just completed my legal paperwork and ID design for Third Coast Consultants, LLC (aka 3C2), a grant writing consultancy. Next step, create a web site. Also, this week is my final week of work to complete a certification in grant writing.

So...I apologize for not having fresh content up here as of late. I will be back on track next week, if not later this week.

In the mean time, if you have suggestions for any nonprofits that deserve some recognition, drop me a line at thomas.reed@me.com.

--Thomas J. Reed, Jr.
Chief Grant Consultant
Third Coast Consultants, LLC

US Green Building Council - Detroit Regional Chapter

Our city on the straits turned 313 years old recently. Over the course of that time innumerable buildings, big and small, distinguished and forgettable have graced the cityscape.

Unfortunately, the past several decades have seen many buildings suffer the ravages of both time and neglect. Recently, however, there has been a renewed interest in renovating and reviving both commercial and residential properties within the city.

Luckily, there is an organization that can serve as a resource for those looking to move forward in bringing the area’s real estate inventory back into functionality in the most sustainable, low-impact way: The US Green Building Council. The Detroit chapter was established in 2002; its mission is to impact the way buildings and communities are designed.

The Detroit Regional Chapter’s many individual committees focus the work of the organization. Most meet monthly, and there is one that addresses almost every issue that is pertinent to the real estate industry of Detroit.

One focus of the USGBC is LEED. The acronym stands for Leadership in Energy efficient and Environmental Design, and has become not only the organizations Standard, but an International Standard for encouraging efficient and healthy buildings.

There is LEED for New Construction, its first standard, or LEED for Homes, or LEED Neighborhood Development, or Green Schools, Commercial Real Estate or Emerging Professionals. The USGBC Detroit Chapter has members and resources that are leveraged by individuals and companies working to bring local real estate back to a high level of quality in the wisest fashion.

The local chapter brought many leaders to Detroit to show off the uncelebrated jewels of the city USGBC Midyear Meeting earlier this year. It’s Emerging Professionals Committee selected eight community partners that will work long-term with the USGBC to support their work that advances the goal of sustainability in Detroit. Ultimately, the USGBC and it’s partners seek to promote environmentally building practices employed and healthier buildings occupied.

You can check out the resources available through the USGBC on their web site. There is also a calendar of events they sponsor as well.

Talk about the work the USGBC is doing. They are helping change the direction Detroit is evolving in. Let people know; their work shouldn’t be secret.

Millman No Restrictions Golf Foundation

Over the past decade or more the ranks of disabled veterans has swelled. Many times they experience trouble reintegrating into civilian society. Some experience PTSD, others are fitted with prosthetics. All too often they retreat from the world and into their own safe spaces.

Millman NRG Foundation has worked alongside several veterans’ organizations and disabled support groups to give back to these individuals a social activity and a sport they can participate in. No Restrictions Golf (the NRG in the name) holds several events each year to share their passion for the sport and demonstrate to those who may believe they can no longer enjoy a sport how they may participate in golf while accommodating their new circumstances.

This nonprofit was founded by Scott and Teresa Millman, a couple passionate about helping others including veterans, those with disabilities and children. Scott is a USGTF Master Golf Instructor with over 25 years of teaching and playing experience and Teresa has achieved success in both the financial and nonprofit communities.

Scott explained their motivations, “Teresa & I felt a strong need to give back to our community. Starting the Millman NRG Foundation was our way of sharing our love of golf with others. Our goal is to make the game more inclusive and accessible for all. Both of us have had family in the military, we felt we needed to let all of our service men and women know that we are grateful for their sacrifices and that we are here to support not only them but their families as well.”

Scott and Teresa Millman, Co-founders of N.R.G. Foundation

If you would like to volunteer with the Millman NRG Foundation, you can visit their web page here; or donate the cause here.

The Extra Mile

Cancer is a word that has chilled most of us in one way or another. Maybe you mother, sister or wife has had to deal with the terrifying diagnosis. Or, your father, brother or husband has been through debilitating treatment.

Luckily, there are many nonprofit organizations (NPOs) out there that have as their mission the eradication or more endurable treatment of the disease. Many of them extend their networks as civic minded organizations hold fund raisers and awareness events so that the goal is not forgotten or put aside for other important issues.

There are facets of dealing with cancer that don’t always get recognized though when an event comes up that focuses on diagnosis or treatment. One of those is spending dwindling precious time with a loved one as they face a terminal prognosis. Matt Dimmer discovered that after his father underwent routine gall bladder surgery and was found to have Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer.

An LA-dwelling Detroit native, Matt and his wife had just moved to Los Angeles from Chicago when the family got the news. Fortunately for Matt, he had the means to travel home often and mark precious milestones with his father and his family as his father’s health declined. About a month before his father’s passing, Matt stepped back and recognized his advantage and was pained to think of others who were too far away and unable to afford the travel involved to share their loved one’s last holiday...or weekend...or day.

The experience led Matt to form a nonprofit that seeks to enable others without the means to travel to sick loved ones to say a precious goodbye. The Extra Mile (thextramile.org) seeks to collect American Express points, travelers’ surplus frequent flyer miles and, of course, cash to help reunite loved ones going through an experience similar to Matt’s own.

As Matt explained his mission to me, “Saying goodbye to a dying loved one  should be a human right that no one should be denied, and I intend on making that happen.”

If you would like to donate or get more involved with The Extra Mile, visit their web site at thextramile.org.