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.

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.

Finally!

I apologize for taking so long to get new information into the Shouldn't Be Secret blog. A lot of end-of-summer stuff has cropped up: I got sick, my daughter's birthday and back-to-school shopping had to be done (I can't believe school starts next week!).

I again apologize, but coming next is a short write up on a very special nonprofit: Preservation Detroit.

Please check the out and expect more regular entries from me.

--Thomas

NOT an orphan!

For those of you who have checked in on this blog that last few weeks, rest assured I have not abandoned it. It's just been an eventful few weeks for me: I have earned a certificate in grant writing; I have fought a nasty summer cold for two weeks and my daughter's seventh birthday is this week requiring some preparation on my part.

I have a couple of entries in the pipeline and I hope to be back on track next week. Thank you so much for checking back. I will have some new content up here soon.

Thanks again,

--Thomas

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.