Special Needs Housing Projects Continue to Expand

The Llangollen Hope House, located in New Castle, DE, opened to four residents in December 2009

Taking a necessary step into the age of social media, the Delaware-based Krysti Bingham Cerebral Palsy Foundation (KBCPF - http://kbcpf.org/cms) created a Facebook page on June 30, 2011. Using the new platform to post photos and news updates, the organization has come a long way from its beginnings a decade ago. Dianne Bingham, mother of cerebral palsy patient Krysti, founded KBCPF in 2001 to provide a safe home and haven for both her daughter and for the many maturing patients struggling with the same condition. Dianne, along with her husband John, led a project that constructed two special needs facilities known as "Hope Houses" through HUD funds.

The Black Diamond Hope House, located in Smyrna, DE, opened to six disabled residents in spring 2009

HUD's Regional Administrator Jane C. W. Vincent was on hand to congratulate Johneshia on her accomplishment. To celebrate the achievement, Johneshia, her family, the Homeownership Voucher staff and Vincent gathered to turn over the keys to the new homeowner, tour her home and help plant some flowers in her back yard. All agreed, it was home sweet home for the Kornegay family.

The Black Diamond Hope House in Smyrna, DE received $280,000 in HOME funds and the Llangollen Hope House in New Castle, DE used $208,000 in HOME funds, resulting in ten additional housing units for New Castle County's special needs population while leveraging $1.8 million in additional funds. Both facilities finished construction by December 2009.

Featuring amenities like a central dining room with restaurant-style menus, home-cooked meals and group events, the KBCPF "Hope Houses" work to transform the lifestyles of persons with cerebral palsy. In addition to providing community activities, the "Hope Houses" have physical characteristics that make them conducive to independent living, such as having appliances on ground level with no thresholds (i.e. barrier-free), roll-in showers, radiant heat, central vacuuming outlets and outdoor decks for all units.

In addition to the new Facebook page, KBCPF recently acquired an accessible van that takes residents from both houses to and from weekend activities and community service excursions. These new expansions have helped the foundation to reach its goal of keeping people, like Krysti, out of institutions and keep patients' lifestyles productive, challenging and rewarding.

HUD Multifamily Hub Director Connie Loukatos (second from left) and Multifamily Project Management Director Rodell Burton (far right) help out at the Hope House ground breaking event

Working to create home-like, long-term residences that are an alternative to institutional facilities and nursing homes, KBCPF strives to prepare its disabled consumers and families to lead more fulfilling lives by interacting more effectively with others in the community. Through its programs, therapies and employment, KBCPF brings people to a point where their ability eclipses or exceeds their disability.

KBCPF's "Hope Houses," two Section 811 projects for the disabled, were developed through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Delaware State Housing Authority, New Castle County and private funders. Under HUD's Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities Section 811 program, eligible residents only pay 30 percent of their income for rent and the federal government pays the rest, since interest-free capital was used to construct the projects.