SCIO TWP. – Many Hands Lifesharing Community, a dedicated local 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is on a mission to create a groundbreaking haven for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in Washtenaw County, offering a vibrant and thriving housing and care community where everyone can thrive, regardless of ability.
Many Hands’ Board of Directors recently announced the organization has secured a 90-acre parcel of land on Baker Road in Dexter. Many Hands aims to develop a farmstead community which will provide nurturing, family-like homes for individuals with IDD and their caregivers. There is nothing like this currently in Michigan.
A Growing Crisis in Need of a Bold Solution
There are more than 7,000 people with intellectual and/or developmental disability, including severe autism, living in Washtenaw County. At least 1,000 adults require 24/7 care from family or professional caregivers. There is a critical shortage of residential options for this population. Compounding the challenges to affected individuals and their families is the severe shortage of care workers—a painful shortfall being felt in all sectors of the world of direct care services.
“The urgent need for an innovative solution for those with developmental disabilities in our area cannot be overstated,” remarks Ron Hodess, an MHLC Advisory Board member, Miller Canfield Attorney, and Autism Alliance of Michigan board member. “The waiting lists for existing communities are tragically long, highlighting the critical necessity of Many Hands Lifesharing Community.”
Of the 100 residents who will call the Many Hands community home, one-third will be IDD adults. The remaining residential space will be dedicated to housing staff within the community alongside IDD residents, fostering a close-knit environment that enhances the quality of care provided, a model called “Lifesharing.”
While Lifesharing is novel to Washtenaw County, it has been successful in similar communities across the country. It promises a more holistic and compassionate approach to disability care, while at the same time providing much-needed affordable housing and valuable professional growth and training opportunities to caregivers.
The envisioned community on Baker Road will boast a range of offerings designed to enrich the lives of residents, their caregivers and beyond. These include miles of accessible pathways, a craft house, an auditorium/gymnasium, a bakery-equipped kitchen, a therapeutic pool, and a cafe open to the public.
Additionally, an organic regenerative farm with animals will provide a unique opportunity for residents to connect with nature. Importantly, over 60% of the land will remain agricultural or natural, featuring systems to reduce water runoff into Mills Creek and sustainable structures equipped with cutting-edge solar systems.
Benefits Beyond its Borders…
The ultimate vision for Many Hands Lifesharing Community extends beyond its borders. When fully realized, it will welcome the broader disability community, offering educational and recreational activities to non-residents, thereby addressing an unmet need for inclusivity and on-going life enrichment—a particularly critical need for the area’s IDD population over 26 who have aged out of school-based programming. To foster a greater sense of connection between the Many Hands residents and the surrounding community, onsite resources like the cafe, fresh produce grown onsite, and a petting farm will be open to the public.
“Everyone yearns to belong and deserves to be part of a community,” says Many Hands Founder and Board Chair, Kerry Kafafian. “The many social aspects built into our model will nurture this most human desire, and foster community, while providing residents safety and greater sense of independence not available to them in the larger world.”
Many Hands intends to leverage existing funding to combine public and private resources to deliver a high standard of care while addressing the shortfall in direct care professionals. Medicaid funds approved under the Home and Community Based Services program will cover most operational expenses, while private donations will support the development of a neighborhood featuring carbon neutral with on-site solar within a sustainable natural and agricultural environment. To achieve this ambitious vision, Many Hands is set to collaborate with Brio Living Services (formerly United Methodist Retirement Communities) as the developer and Jan Culbertson as the sustainability architect.
As the next step in their journey, Many Hands is actively raising funds for site work. A forthcoming capital campaign will be launched to secure the necessary resources for construction. Anticipating the first group of residents to move into their new homes by 2025, Many Hands Lifesharing Community is poised to make a lasting impact on the lives of those with IDD and their families.
For more information about Many Hands or to contribute to this transformative endeavor, please visit www.ManyHandsLC.org.
