January 25, 2023
More than a house Promise Community Homes celebrates 50 years of providing affordable homes for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
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By Wendy Todd According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021 only 19.1% of people with disabilities were unemployed. Though it was slight jump from 2020, there is a still a great challenge for many people with disabilities to obtain gainful employment, which also impacts their ability to secure suitable housing. The nonprofit Promise Community Homes, formerly Rainbow Village, which is located in Creve Coeur, is celebrating its 50th year of providing affordable homes for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). In 1973, nine parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities began the organization with seven homes serving a few dozen residents. Today, the nonprofit is the largest specialty housing nonprofit in St. Louis providing 300 adults with IDD in 86 homes throughout St. Louis, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Jefferson County. Among other factors, a big obstacle to people with IDD in securing housing is income, as explained by Lisa Dickerson, operations director. “Most of our residents receive less than $800 a month in disability waivers from the state, so they cannot pay market rate rents unless they’re bringing in other income,” she said. “Employment is also a challenge because you must consider other supports to be successful in a job, like having reliable transportation.” In addition, it can be challenging to find property owners who are willing to provide accessibility supports such as ramps
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Weather FRIDAY Cloudy 46/31 SATURDAY Partly Cloudy 48/35 Mary Wilson (left), with caregiver Marybeth, in her home provided by Promise Community Homes.
or bathrooms outfitted to accommodate special needs. Along with housing, PCH provides other amenities in their Wolff Community Center for its residents including a heated therapeutic pool, a gymnasium and patio, that can be rented by all community members of all abilities and a garden bed to grow food for the residents. People with IDD who need housing are typically referred to the nonprofit from other agencies and receive waivers from the Department of Mental Health. The organi-
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zation helps people and families navigate the process to secure housing with them. Mary Wilson has been a resident with the nonprofit since 1998 and enjoys living near the Wolff Community Center. She also participates in the agency’s Aging With Empowerment program. “It’s good,” she said. “I love my two roommates. I walk to the center every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I am happy living there. It’s easy to walk places.” See ‘HOUSE’ page 2
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