Answers For Case Managers, Advocates & Service Coordinators

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are a few frequently asked questions about Villa de Vida, by case managers, advocates, and service coordinators.

Table of Contents

  1. Question 1: Who is eligible to live at Villa de Vida, and how can I refer a client for housing there?

  2. Question 2: What on-site services does Villa de Vida provide, and how does that interface with the services our agency provides?

  3. Question 3: How does Villa de Vida help ensure residents maintain their housing and achieve their personal goals?

  4. Question 4: In what ways can we as case managers or advocates collaborate with Villa de Vida staff?

  5. Question 5: What makes Villa de Vida’s housing model different or innovative compared to other options for adults with I/DD?

  6. Question 6: Are there opportunities for clients who aren’t residents (or aren’t yet ready for independent living) to engage with Villa de Vida’s community?

  7. What to do next.

Question 1: Who is eligible to live at Villa de Vida, and how can I refer a client for housing there?

Answer: Villa de Vida Poway is an independent living apartment community primarily for adults with developmental disabilities (IDD) or closely related conditions, who are capable of living independently with supports. To be eligible, an individual should be over 18 (an adult) with a documented developmental disability (per California’s definition, which includes intellectual disability, autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, or similar conditions that require comparable support needs) or another disability and would benefit from the services that we provide on site. They also must meet the low-income requirements for affordable housing – typically, this means their income is below 50-60% of area median income, and qualify for the project based voucher program. All residents go through a dual screening: Mercy Housing (the property manager) checks standard tenancy criteria (income, background, ability to meet lease obligations), and The Housing Authority of the County of  San Diego confirms the disability-related eligibility.

In practice, eligible clients are those who want to live independently in their own apartment and can do so with some support (it is not assisted living). Many ideal candidates are individuals currently living with aging parents or in group homes who are ready for more independence, or young adults transitioning out of school who have the skills and desire to tackle apartment life with some guidance.

To refer a client, you should encourage them (and their family) to apply through the Housing Authority’s waitlist for Villa de Vida Poway. The initial leasing was done on a first come first serve basis, and now the housing authority maintains a waiting list for future vacancies. As a case manager, you might help your client fill out the application, gather necessary documentation (proof of disability, income verification, etc.), and submit it when the list is open. Keep in mind that because the need for this type of housing is so high – so staying alert for announcements is key.

You can only get status updates from the Housing Authority. Also, make sure your client is Regional Center eligible/active if possible; while not a strict requirement, the support of the Regional Center is very helpful for success at Villa de Vida  (Villa de Vida staff can coordinate with the Regional Center on services). It’s worth noting that Villa de Vida is one-of-a-kind in San Diego County at the moment (54 units dedicated to this population), so demand far exceeds supply.

If your client is looking for housing, get them on the list as soon as possible and also explore other housing options concurrently. Villa de Vida’s success is meant to be a model for replication, so more projects may arise in the future.

Question 2: What on-site services does Villa de Vida provide, and how does that interface with the services our agency provides?

Answer: Villa de Vida provides resident services coordination and community programming on-site, and these are intended to complement, not replace the services from other agencies. The Villa de Vida, Inc. team essentially fills the gaps between what residents get from formal service providers and what they might still need in day-to-day life.

For example, your agency (as a Regional Center service coordinator or an ILS/SLS provider) might already be working on certain goals with the client – Villa de Vida’s coordinator will connect with you and ensure those goals are supported in the housing setting as well. They actively work with Regional Center case managers, families, and in-home support staff as partners, sharing information (with consent) and aligning efforts.

Villa de Vida’s on-site services include things like: Independent living skills reinforcement (they might run a cooking class that dovetails with what an ILS instructor is teaching, for instance), employment support (hosting job fairs or connecting residents to agencies like Department of Rehab or local job training programs), social/recreational programs (which help with social skills, community integration, and prevent isolation), health and wellness activities, and general resource navigation. These are broad and preventive supports, offered by non-clinical staff. Meanwhile, your agency’s services (like 1:1 life skills training, therapy, case management) continue as before – Villa de Vida expects residents to keep utilizing those necessary services.  It is important to note that the services that we provide are never inside the units.  They are not one to one or even have a ratio, they are meant for the entire resident population to participate in, if they choose to.

In fact, Villa de Vida is not a vendor of the Regional Center and does not provide licensed professional services itself (no therapy, medical care, or personal attendant care by their staff). So, residents will still rely on their behaviorists, therapists, job coaches, personal assistants, etc., from outside agencies for specialized needs. Villa de Vida’s coordinator can help schedule those services, provide space on-site for sessions if needed, and monitor generally how the resident is progressing so they can alert you to any issues.

Think of Villa de Vida’s role as being the “eyes and ears on the ground” at the housing site – they might notice if a client hasn’t been eating well or is withdrawing socially, and then they can flag that to you or suggest an extra service. They also facilitate communication: for example, arranging meetings with a resident’s entire support team if needed to solve a problem. The coordination is very collaborative.

As one example, Villa de Vida staff will collaborate with the San Diego Regional Center and other providers specifically on residents’ employment goals – they might host on-site job development classes and invite agency job coaches to participate, or refer a resident to an outside vocational program and follow up on their progress.

Another example is health: if a resident has a medical issue, Villa de Vida doesn’t treat it but can help the resident get to their doctor and encourage follow-ups, and they might host a health fair to educate residents on preventive care.

In short, your agency’s services remain crucial and are in no way replaced by Villa de Vida. Instead, Villa de Vida provides an enriched environment that reinforces skills and offers additional activities in between formal services. This can make your job easier: residents in this community are more likely to be engaged, have structure to their days, and have a natural, neighborly support network, which can reduce crises and improve consistency. The Villa de Vida coordinator can be your point of contact to exchange information (with appropriate releases) and ensure continuity in the client’s Individual Program Plan (IPP) goals. By working in tandem – you handling specialized or intensive supports, and Villa de Vida offering some day-to-day coordination and community integration – the client feels like they have a web of support.

Research and our experience show that this wraparound approach leads to better outcomes in housing stability. So, expect a partnership: for every resident of yours at Villa de Vida, the staff will likely reach out to introduce themselves and coordinate planning.

Question 3: How does Villa de Vida help ensure residents maintain their housing and achieve their personal goals?

Answer: Villa de Vida employs a proactive, person-centered approach to help each resident succeed in their apartment over the long term. A cornerstone of this is their Housing Stability and Eviction Prevention strategy. Villa de Vida’s Resident Support staff can help formulate a plan for residents that identifies what supports are needed to preserve their housing and work toward their goals. They may gather input from the resident, family, and case managers to learn the individual’s strengths and risk areas.

For instance, if a resident has never paid bills before, the plan might include coaching and classes on budgeting and setting up automatic rent payment. If a resident sometimes has behavioral meltdowns, the plan might involve a behavior support strategy and lining up a therapist or behaviorist through the Regional Center ahead of time.

Villa de Vida staff can conduct virtual and in-person assessments with each resident (covering daily living skills, health needs, etc.) soon after move-in. Based on these, they make recommendations to the resident’s support team and the resident themselves about services or training that could help them thrive. They essentially create a “to-do list” of support interventions – for example, suggesting the resident start attending a weekly social skills group, or connecting them to a financial benefits counselor if they haven’t applied for certain benefits. These recommendations are followed up on in coordination with you (the case manager) and other providers.

Crucially, Villa de Vida monitors ongoing how residents are doing. The staff is on-site and interacts with residents daily, so they can catch early warning signs (like withdrawal, conflict with neighbors, missed rent) and address them. Meeting regularly with residents to review progress on personal goals is an option – whether it’s finding a job, learning to ride the bus, or making friends – and adjust the supports as needed. All of this adaptation is part of how Villa de Vida measures success: not by a one-size metric, but by how well they can support each resident’s individual journey.

If challenges arise, the team convenes what is essentially a circle of support meeting. For example, suppose a resident loses their job (so income drops) and they start feeling depressed. Villa de Vida might respond by (1) helping the resident apply for emergency rent assistance and/or assist in the process to adjust their rent portion through the voucher (to prevent arrears), (2) bringing in a counselor or peer support for the emotional aspect, (3) liaising with you to maybe increase day program activities or job coaching for the resident, and (4) encouraging the resident to join more community activities to avoid isolation. All these efforts are coordinated in a plan that the resident agrees to – keeping them housed and working toward recovery of stability.

For long-term goal achievement, Villa de Vida fosters an environment of growth. Residents may have leadership opportunities (like running a club, giving a presentation or helping plan events) which builds confidence and skills. The staff is flexible – if a resident suddenly develops a new goal, say they want to try college, the coordinator will help them connect with Disability Support Services at a local college and perhaps adjust their other commitments to accommodate classes.

Because Villa de Vida is dedicated to adapting to each person rather than forcing them into a rigid program, residents are more likely to pursue and reach their goals, whether those are employment, creative endeavors, or daily living milestones.

From a case manager’s perspective, Villa de Vida essentially provides an extra layer of follow-through. They “consistently follow up with residents to make sure they have all the resources that are available that they need to be successful,” and the ultimate objective is to create a support team around the resident that is self-contained and sustainable. That means if one support falters, another can step in – ensuring continuity. This approach has proven effective, allowing residents to lead independent, but not isolated, lives.

Historically, so many IDD clients stayed with parents or ended up in inappropriate settings because there weren’t good options, and Villa de Vida now provides that option with the right supports.

In summary, Villa de Vida uses planning, monitoring, adaptation, and collaboration to ensure each resident not only stays housed but also moves toward their personal aspirations – whether that’s employment, community involvement, socialization or greater self-reliance.

Question 4: In what ways can we as case managers or advocates collaborate with Villa de Vida staff?

Answer: Collaboration is not just welcome at Villa de Vida – it’s built into our model. As soon as one of your clients is slated to move into Villa de Vida, expect the Resident Services Coordinator to reach out and establish communication. You’ll likely be asked to participate in the initial assessment or planning meeting for the resident (with the resident’s consent), so that Villa de Vida understands the Individual Program Plan (IPP) goals and current services in place. Villa de Vida staff will share with you their role and get contact info for all key players (family, day program, job coach, etc.).

Going forward, regular check-ins are common. The Villa de Vida coordinator might set up quarterly calls or emails with you to trade updates on the resident’s progress and any emerging needs. If the resident encounters a significant issue, Villa de Vida will likely call to problem-solve.

For example, if a resident has a medical hospitalization, the Villa de Vida staff might ask for your help in arranging a transition plan back home, making sure in-home supports are temporarily increased during recovery. They will want to know what the Regional Center can fund or what services can be adjusted, and conversely, you might rely on them to implement daily follow-ups when the person returns.

Information-sharing is key: Villa de Vida will maintain records of each resident’s support plans (if the residents agree) and can provide documentation or reports to you for IPP meetings. In some cases, you may find it helpful to hold the individual’s IPP meeting on-site at Villa de Vida, with their staff contributing. They can report on how the resident is managing in the apartment, progress in classes, social integration, etc., which gives you richer data for planning.

Villa de Vida’s team abides by confidentiality and will require proper consents to share information, but families typically agree on a collaborative arrangement because they see the benefit.

Additionally, Villa de Vida invites case managers and service coordinators to their community events at times. For instance, you might be invited to an open house, a resource fair, or relevant trainings. This gives you a chance to interact with your clients in their living environment and to meet other residents and staff. If your agency has resources (say, a benefits specialist or a sexuality educator), Villa de Vida might welcome a partnership where that resource presents to the community.

Practically, you can collaborate by sharing your professional insights on what works best for the client (e.g., “John responds well to visual schedules” or “Sara has a goal to join Special Olympics, can we facilitate that?”). Villa de Vida staff will integrate that into their approach. If you have an idea for a workshop that would benefit multiple residents, bring it up – we often partner with outside experts for programming.

For example, Villa de Vida collaborated with SEEDS Educational Services to deliver social education to residents, their families, and staff. That kind of partnership might have come from recognizing a common need (safety and boundaries training) and finding an expert resource to provide it. As a case manager, you might identify a need among several of your clients at Villa de Vida – say, travel training – and you could work with the Villa de Vida coordinator to arrange a group session, combining Regional Center resources with Villa de Vida’s on-site facilitation.

In summary, collaboration happens through frequent communication, joint planning, shared training opportunities, and mutual support. Villa de Vida essentially extends your reach by handling some of the encouragement and observation, while you bring the formal support options and oversight. By working together, we collectively offer services to the residents that meet their needs comprehensively. The open line of communication is always there – we encourage you to reach out to us anytime you have a concern or an update about your client. This level of partnership is what makes Villa de Vida’s model a “wraparound” success – the resident is at the center, with all of us coordinating around them.

Question 5: What makes Villa de Vida’s housing model different or innovative compared to other options for adults with I/DD?

Answer: Villa de Vida is pioneering an “affinity community” approach within the realm of supportive housing for adults with developmental disabilities. Unlike traditional integrated housing models where only a small percentage of units might be for people with disabilities (sometimes leading to our clients being a minority among non-disabled neighbors), Villa de Vida’s community is 100% dedicated to adults with disabilities; we view this not as segregation but as celebration of a shared experience.

This is innovative because it creates a built-in peer network; residents aren’t the token “special” tenants scattered in different complexes, but rather they live among friends and peers, which greatly enhances their sense of belonging and confidence.

Traditional wisdom emphasized integration, and integration is valuable, but Villa de Vida noticed that being constantly outnumbered or isolated can sometimes erode self-esteem for many individuals with I/DD. So, we “flipped the script” to build a community for this population, by this population’s advocates, asking them what they want.

Additionally, Villa de Vida combines permanent affordable housing with on-site services coordination in a way that is usually seen in supportive housing for other groups (like veterans or homeless populations) but is still relatively rare for the I/DD community. It’s essentially a form of Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) tailored to people with developmental disabilities.

Many existing options for I/DD individuals are either small licensed group homes (which have staff and higher support but often little independence), or independent living in regular apartments (which offers independence but often scant support, and our clients might be lonely or at risk there).

Villa de Vida fills a gap: it offers true independence (each person has their own lease and apartment) plus a safety net of supports on-site and a community around them. It’s a hybrid model that leverages affordable housing financing (like Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and vouchers), something not widely used before for this population in California, to create scale (54 units is large for a disability-specific housing). In fact, Villa de Vida Poway is the largest community of its kind that Mercy Housing has developed, and they view it as a possible blueprint for future projects.

What’s also forward-thinking is the planning partnership: Villa de Vida, Inc. (a nonprofit started by parents and advocates for adults with special needs) partnered with Mercy Housing California (a major affordable housing developer) to make this happen. This collaboration brought together disability expertise with housing development expertise – a model for other regions to emulate.

The funding was innovative too, involving city, county, state, and federal resources (the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee awarded tax credits to fund construction, the County provides rental vouchers, etc.). It demonstrates a new financing path for special needs housing at a time when policymakers are scrambling for solutions to house the growing number of adults outliving their caregivers.

Finally, Villa de Vida’s philosophy of resident empowerment sets it apart. Instead of a top-down program where residents must fit into pre-designed services, Villa de Vida is flexible and responsive; if a resident has a dream or an idea, the community tries to accommodate it. Leadership and community-building are encouraged among the residents themselves, which is somewhat unique. The result is a vibrant community where, as we like to say, “residents don't just live – they thrive,” and where many aspects of community life are sustained by the residents’ own initiative (with support as needed).

An important thing to note is that Villa de Vida’s model is complementary to other models, not in competition.

There are various successful housing models for people with I/DD from shared living, intentional communities, to scattered-site apartments with mobile supports, and given the huge demand (over 70% of adults with developmental disabilities live at home with family, and many of those families need alternatives) we need all these solutions.

Villa de Vida’s innovation is showing that an affinity, community-focused model can be done at scale within the affordable housing system. It’s essentially a demonstration that adults with I/DD can have their own apartment community, with dignity and choice, and that this can be financially sustainable and replicable.

Other organizations are watching this as a promising avenue. Indeed, Villa de Vida’s creation has been celebrated by fellow advocates as a “new housing and support option” that “can’t come soon enough” given the desperate need).

In summary, what’s different about Villa de Vida is the combination of factors: a peer community, permanent affordable apartments, optional wraparound services, and a highly collaborative ethos – all of which together empower a population often left with limited choices, without casting any model in a negative light. It stands as one more much-needed option in the spectrum of supports for people with I/DD, and a particularly empowering one at that.

Question 6: Are there opportunities for clients who aren’t residents (or aren’t yet ready for independent living) to engage with Villa de Vida’s community?

Answer: Yes. Villa de Vida has made efforts to extend its supportive community beyond just those who live in the building, recognizing that not everyone can move in right away (or at all). One key offering is the Villa de Vida Social Club, which is open to any adult in the special needs community, not only the residents.

The Social Club meets regularly and hosts activities like dances, game nights, holiday celebrations, and outings in the San Diego area. The idea is to provide socialization opportunities for adults with I/DD living in the wider community, helping to combat isolation while also building connections that might later ease someone’s transition into independent living.

For instance, a client of yours who still lives at home could join the Social Club events and start making friends and getting comfortable with the Villa de Vida crowd, even if they’re not living there yet. That way, if they do move in eventually, they already have a network. And even if they don’t move in, they benefit from the inclusive social environment.

Moreover, Villa de Vida, Inc. offers classes and workshops to the wider community when possible. They have partnered with the City of Poway’s Community Services to provide things like cooking classes and employment preparation classes that anyone can sign up for. These are sometimes held at community centers and are advertised to all adults with developmental disabilities in the area.

So, your clients who are on the waitlist (or who may be in other housing) can still access some of Villa de Vida’s programs to build their skills. It’s part of Villa de Vida’s mission to serve not just its residents, but the broader communities of Poway and San Diego County special needs population. Think of us as a community hub.

Additionally, Villa de Vida is very open to visitors and integration. If you have a client considering a more independent living path, you might arrange a tour or a short visit to Villa de Vida (perhaps attend a community event there) to let them experience it. Sometimes seeing peers thriving in that setting can be motivational.

Villa de Vida also has volunteer opportunities (for example, neurotypical community members or even other disabled adults from outside can volunteer or participate in events), which further blends residents with non-residents in activities.

Finally, Villa de Vida is actively advocating for and planning future developments. While that’s long-term, it means we are accumulating resources and lessons that can help other clients beyond Poway. For example, our Resources page and FAQ on our website provide information that can benefit any family or advocate looking for housing solutions (covering topics like special needs trusts, navigating benefits, etc.).

We also collaborate with other providers, being a “community partner” themselves, to amplify what’s available. So even if a client can’t live at Villa de Vida, they might benefit indirectly from the network and knowledge base Villa de Vida offers (like referrals to similar programs or advice on independent living readiness).

In short, non-residents can engage through the Social Club, virtual programming, community classes, events, and the general support network Villa de Vida fosters. As a case manager, you can tap into these offerings for your clients. It’s a way to start preparing them for more independence or simply to improve their quality of life while waiting for housing.

Villa de Vida truly believes in collaboration and “many players in the space with as many ideas as possible,” so we strive to be a resource and partner to the whole community, not an isolated silo.

What to do next:

If you’re working with clients who might benefit from Villa de Vida, join forces with our team. Get in touch with the Villa de Vida Activities Coordinator to introduce yourself and exchange information about mutual clients. Encourage your clients to participate in Villa de Vida’s open events or Social Club to build familiarity and skills.

It’s also helpful to share resources. For instance, if your agency offers a workshop (benefits planning, travel training, etc.), consider hosting it at Villa de Vida or inviting Villa de Vida residents. Conversely, if Villa de Vida invites you to planning meetings or trainings, make time to attend – this strengthens the support network.

Ensure that you incorporate Villa de Vida’s inputs into your clients’ IPPs, making their housing stability and community integration explicit goals. By staying proactive and collaborative, you’ll be helping to set a precedent for how service coordinators and housing providers can work hand-in-hand.

We are open to feedback and ideas, so we hope you will maintain an ongoing dialogue. Together we can refine support strategies that might even serve as best practices for other settings in the future.