Answers For Housing Developers & Community Partners
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are a few frequently asked questions about Villa de Vida, by housing developers and community partners.
Table of Contents
Question 1: What partnerships and funding were involved in creating Villa de Vida, and how was it developed?
Question 2: Why is a community like Villa de Vida needed, and what problem does it address?
Question 3: How is Villa de Vida’s model different from other housing models for people with disabilities, and how does it complement them?
Question 4: How does Villa de Vida integrate its residents into the broader community and encourage community partnerships?
Question 5: Can this model be replicated elsewhere, and what are the key factors for success?
Question 6: How can community members or organizations support Villa de Vida’s mission and the development of similar housing?
What to do next.
Question 1: What partnerships and funding were involved in creating Villa de Vida, and how was it developed?
Answer: Villa de Vida, Inc. (the nonprofit behind the vision) formed a crucial partnership with Mercy Housing California (MHC) to develop Villa de Vida Poway. Mercy Housing is an experienced affordable housing developer, and Villa de Vida, Inc. brought the mission and stakeholder connections for the I/DD community. Together, they structured the project as a two-story, 54-unit affordable housing development targeted to adults with developmental disabilities.
The financing primarily came through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program: in 2018, the project was awarded roughly $1.97 million in annual federal tax credits (a competitive allocation from the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee) that provided the bulk of construction equity. In addition, the City of Poway and the County of San Diego were key contributors – Poway provided local approvals, fee waivers, and land contributions (the site at Oak Knoll Road was secured in collaboration with the city), and the County not only committed Project-Based Vouchers for all 54 units (ensuring operating subsidy), but also contributed a loan from The Innovative Housing Trust Fund. The State of California was involved via the tax credits and other special needs housing funds.
It was truly a layered funding stack: tax credit equity, local soft loans/grants, state incentives, and rental assistance. The partnership of a service-oriented nonprofit with a housing developer was essential to navigate this. The development timeline saw planning starting many years before construction – indeed, Villa de Vida’s founders, including Board Chair Ted Merchant and Executive Director Hunter Christian, spent years on planning and advocacy. They had to shepherd the project through phases: acquiring a site, securing city entitlements, and assembling financing (which involved applying for tax credits), and then building the complex (construction started April 2019 and completed in late 2020 and the doors opening for residents in 2021).
During that time, Villa de Vida also fundraised and built community support through many community donors, knowing this housing was much needed.
From a development standpoint, Villa de Vida Poway was structured legally as a limited partnership (as is typical with tax credit projects) with Mercy Housing and Villa de Vida, Inc. as partners. Mercy Housing, through its Mercy Housing Management Group, manages the property, and Villa de Vida, Inc. provides the resident services. This delineation of roles – professional property management separate from services – is considered a best practice in supportive housing.
One unique aspect of development was aligning the housing design with the population’s needs. The apartments are all accessible or easily adaptable; common areas like a teaching kitchen, gym, and computer lab were included to serve program functions. The location was chosen for its community integration value: it’s walkable (Walk Score ~70) and adjacent to a creek and park, providing a pleasant environment. Even the architectural design took into account safety and community-building (e.g., a central courtyard where residents can gather. These considerations were integrated during development planning with input from stakeholders (families, future residents, service providers).
In summary, Villa de Vida’s creation was a public-private partnership feat: a mission-driven nonprofit teamed with a seasoned developer, backed by city, county, and state housing agencies, leveraging federal tax credits, and supplemented by local grants and immense parent advocacy.
For other developers interested, this model shows that assembling multiple funding sources (LIHTC, vouchers, local housing funds) is viable for special needs housing, especially when you have a strong service partner and clear evidence of need. Indeed, that evidence – the growing numbers of adults with I/DD needing homes – helped justify these investments.
The project is often cited as a model because it demonstrates how to braid funding: it basically plugged the I/DD community into the existing affordable housing finance system, something many have found challenging.
Question 2: Why is a community like Villa de Vida needed, and what problem does it address?
Answer: Villa de Vida addresses a critical and growing problem: the lack of housing options for the expanding population of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. To put it in perspective, there were 8.38 million people with an intellectual or developmental disability in the United States in 2020. Of those, 20% of children and 44% of adults were known to their state developmental disabilities agency (according to the National Center for Health Statistics) – over 625,000 people in California have an intellectual and developmental disability (I/DD). This figure is based on a national prevalence estimate of 1.58%, applied to California's 2025 population of over 39.5 million people, resulting in an estimate of over 642,000, according to the California State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD). The CA Department of Developmental Services (DDS) coordinates services for about 450,000 Californians with I/DD or similar conditions.(California saw a 37.7% increase in people served by Developmental Services in one decade, far outpacing general growth).
Despite this growth, housing development for this group has not kept up. About 71.5% of adults with developmental disabilities live at home with family caregivers, often aging parents. In fact, a 2012 report highlighted that we’re in an unprecedented era where many individuals with I/DD are outliving their parents – at present roughly 25% of caregivers are over 60 years old, and as they age out of caregiving, there are insufficient alternatives for their adult children. Policymakers have been “scrambling for solutions” to this looming housing crisis.
Villa de Vida was founded directly in response to this scenario. Ted Merchant, the co-founder, has an adult son with special needs and personally understood the urgent question, “Where will my child live when I no longer can care for them?”.
Villa de Vida provides one answer: a permanent supportive housing community that offers independence alongside support. It’s needed because traditional options are either too scarce or don’t fit what many families want.
Group homes and licensed facilities serve some, but capacity is limited and they often cater to those with higher needs, not those who could thrive more independently. Regular affordable housing has waitlists that are years long and usually offers no specific supports for our population, so many families wouldn’t feel secure placing their loved one there.
Sadly, many adults with I/DD end up in inappropriate settings – for example, younger disabled adults living in seniors’ housing just to get affordable rent, where they feel out of place among people decades older.
Villa de Vida specifically wanted to create a community of peers (“people their own age”) so that a 30-year-old with a disability isn’t effectively forced to live in a retirement home due to lack of options.
The need is also about quality of life and personal growth. Living at home indefinitely can be stifling to an adult’s independence; many individuals with I/DD want a chance to live on their own, make decisions, have friends, and be part of a community – just like anyone else. Villa de Vida’s model supports that dream (the chance to live both independently and in community with others). It’s solving the problem of isolation and dependency by proving that with the right supports, these adults can lead fulfilling lives in their own homes. The community is designed to prevent the kind of isolation that can happen even in a well-meaning family environment or a solitary apartment.
From a systems perspective, Villa de Vida also alleviates future public service burdens: if those 71.5% of adults living with parents suddenly have no caregivers (as parents age/die), without prepared housing solutions, many might end up in expensive crisis placements or even institutional care. Providing proactive, planned housing like Villa de Vida averts that scenario. It keeps individuals stable and, in many cases, even helps them become more self-sufficient (some gain employment, some require fewer support hours over time because they learn skills in this environment). Thus, it addresses not only a humanitarian need but an economic one – ensuring people remain in the community (not hospitals or emergency shelters) and maximizing their independence and contributions.
The demand for Villa de Vida is evidenced by the response to our opening: when the waitlist opened, there was a flood of applications. It’s clear that the community could be filled many times over. As mentioned above, there’s almost no dedicated affordable housing for adults with I/DD and most live with parents until a crisis. Villa de Vida fills that void and, indeed, we’re the largest development in Southern California specifically for this population, hoping to inspire more.
In short, the problem is that there is a huge population of adults with I/DD who lack appropriate, affordable, and supportive living arrangements as they seek independence or lose family support. Villa de Vida addresses that by creating a scalable model of permanent, service-enriched housing that gives these individuals a stable home and community. It’s a first step toward meeting a demand that far outstrips supply in California and across the nation. As such, its existence is a direct answer to the pleas of many families and individuals: it demonstrates that with creativity and collaboration, we can build more housing where adults with developmental disabilities can “live life fully”, which is Villa de Vida’s mission statement.
Question 3: How is Villa de Vida’s model different from other housing models for people with disabilities, and how does it complement them?
Answer: Villa de Vida’s model is distinct in that it is a purpose-built, affinity apartment-community for adults with disabilities, combining affordability, independence, and on-site support services.
To break that down: unlike group homes, which usually accommodate maybe 4-6 individuals in a single house with 24/7 staff and are licensed care facilities, Villa de Vida is not a licensed care home – it’s a non-licensed independent living setting. Residents have their own apartments and a typical landlord-tenant relationship with the property management, which is quite different from being a client in a group home. This affords residents more privacy, autonomy, and permanence. There isn’t a staff person supervising their every move, which some other models have; instead, staff are there in a coordinating and emergency capacity. It’s akin to mainstream supportive housing seen in the senior living, mental health or homelessness sectors, but tailored for I/DD.
Another difference is scale and concentration: in an attempt to foster an “affinity community,” Villa de Vida deliberately made all units (100%) available to people with disabilities, with a preference for adults with I/DD. Other models, particularly those following certain federal integration guidelines, might cap the number of disabled residents in one complex (often at around 25-30%).
For example, some mixed-income developments set aside a fraction of apartments for I/DD individuals among a larger nondisabled population. Villa de Vida flipped that ratio, creating a community of peers. This can be seen as a modern “intentional community,” but it’s integrated into a typical neighborhood (it’s not an isolated farm or campus, it’s in town, with public streets and neighbors around).
Some might think this is segregation in the negative sense, but it’s actually a positive gathering of people who share understanding. In fact, it’s the difference between feeling like a perpetual outsider versus feeling completely accepted and at home.
It’s also very important to understand that Villa de Vida does not advocate their model OVER other models, but as a complement to others by providing choice: some individuals might prefer a mixed setting, others thrive better among peers – now there are options across that spectrum.
Villa de Vida also pairs support services on-site with housing, but in a flexible manner. If we compare: traditional group homes include care as part of housing (bundled together), whereas mainstream independent living might have no services unless an outside agency comes in. Villa de Vida sits in between – services are available and encouraged but they’re optional and can be customized. This is complementary to a pure Supported Living Services (SLS) model where a person lives in any apartment and an agency provides support hours there. In fact, Villa de Vida works with those SLS agencies: a resident at Villa de Vida could still have their own SLS staff coming in daily, but they additionally benefit from the community and on-site offerings.
So, it’s not an either/or.
Villa de Vida’s model can layer on top of existing support models. A practical example: if someone in a scattered-site apartment with SLS feels lonely, one might consider moving to Villa de Vida where they still get SLS but also have a built-in social network. Conversely, someone in a group home who has developed more independence might transition to Villa de Vida as a step toward more freedom.
From a development perspective, Villa de Vida leveraged affordable housing finance, which is different from how many group homes are funded (often those are small operations sometimes running on state/federal care reimbursement rather than upfront capital financing). This means Villa de Vida needed to meet housing regulations and be financially self-sustaining through rents/vouchers over time. That’s complementary to government-run or state-licensed facilities, adding capacity through public-private partnership without relying on the state to build and own new facilities.
Importantly, Villa de Vida’s leadership does not position their model in opposition to others.
Various types of supportive living communities exist and all are addressing the issue, but collectively “there is just not enough housing to meet the growing demand”. In other words, every model is contributing and we need all hands on deck. Villa de Vida adds one more approach to the mix. By demonstrating success, it may encourage replication of similar models in other communities, thereby complementing existing resources.
For instance, Casa de Amma in Orange County is somewhat similar (private-pay community with apartments for I/DD, heavy programming on-site). Sweetwater Spectrum in Sonoma is an intentional community for adults with autism with a campus and shared houses. Villa de Vida’s twist is that it’s entirely affordable/subsidized, making it accessible to low-income individuals, and integrated in a suburban neighborhood rather than a secluded campus. So, it marries the intentional community feel with public affordability mechanisms.
To sum up, Villa de Vida’s model is different in its scale, financing, and peer-community philosophy within an integrated neighborhood context. It complements other models by filling a niche: those who want true independence and a peer community but cannot afford market rents and do not need full-time supervised care. It also complements the disability housing ecosystem by demonstrating how disability-specific housing can be done in collaboration with mainstream housing frameworks.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution; some people will always need medical models or intensive care, others might prefer complete integration into general housing. Villa de Vida adds the choice of a community-driven supportive housing model, which was previously missing or rare, thereby rounding out the spectrum of options. As advocates often say, having a continuum of residential options is key and Villa de Vida has extended that continuum in a significant way.
Question 4: How does Villa de Vida integrate its residents into the broader community and encourage community partnerships?
Answer: Villa de Vida was intentionally designed not as an island, but as a launchpad for broader community involvement. Physical location plays a role: it’s situated in a walkable part of Poway, near stores, a creek-side trail, and public transit, encouraging residents to be out and visible in the neighborhood. The property itself doesn’t have gates or high walls – it’s open to the street, signaling that it’s part of the neighborhood. On an organizational level, Villa de Vida, Inc. continually seeks community partnerships to bridge residents with the world around them.
For example, Villa de Vida collaborates with local organizations for events such as Holiday with Heroes (an event sponsored by Kiwanis that provides underprivileged kids an opportunity to provide gifts to their families) and volunteers in local senior facilities. They have invited the local Poway community and law enforcement to the property for safety workshops and social mixers, which fosters relationships between residents and their non-disabled neighbors and public servants.
Villa de Vida also hosts or participates in community service projects: residents have options to volunteer in the broader community, whether it’s helping at a local food bank, partaking in city charity walks, or community clean-up days. This not only integrates residents into community life but also allows the community to see their contributions.
On the civic front, Villa de Vida runs voter education and registration drives on-site, often partnering with civic organizations like the League of Women Voters and Disability Rights California to ensure residents (and their families/staff) understand voting rights and issues. They even facilitate permanent mail-in ballot sign-ups to reduce barriers. During these drives, community volunteers come in, which again creates interaction between residents and people in the community around a shared civic activity.
Villa de Vida encourages residents to use community resources: for instance, some residents joined local recreation center classes and the library, some found jobs in local businesses (Poway employers are engaged to consider residents for employment, effectively integrating the workforce). The presence of an on-site activities coordinator means they are regularly looking for interesting things happening in town and organizing groups of residents to go, often with volunteers. This organized participation helps residents navigate community spaces confidently, which in turn makes them familiar faces in those spaces.
An important aspect of integration is inviting the community in. Villa de Vida has held open houses and tours for community members, local officials, and other stakeholders. When Mercy Housing and Villa de Vida opened the property, they garnered a lot of positive local media and city support, which set the tone that this is a community asset, not a closed facility. They’ve continued to maintain that goodwill. They also rely on community partners for programming: e.g., local churches/temples or scout groups might host holiday events at Villa de Vida, or the local library might do a mobile library day there. By bringing these partners on-site, residents get services and fun, and partners get a meaningful way to include this population in their outreach.
Villa de Vida’s approach to community partnership also extends to development and philanthropy. We engaged local service clubs (Rotary, etc.), foundations, and agencies during development and continue to as we expand programming. The result is a network of supporters who advocate for the residents and for inclusive policies. For example, the County housing authority’s involvement (managing the waitlist, providing vouchers) is a partnership that integrates this project into the county’s broader affordable housing strategy. Mercy Housing’s involvement integrates it into a larger portfolio of housing communities, meaning Villa de Vida is represented in regional housing conversations, not siloed.
In summary, Villa de Vida integrates residents through active participation in local life (work, volunteering, recreation), welcoming community members into Villa de Vida’s events (safety demos, open houses, joint celebrations), and partnerships with organizations (civic groups, educational bodies, employers) that create two-way interactions. The outcome is that residents are both residents of Villa de Vida and citizens of Poway.
Community partners have remarked on the positivity of having Villa de Vida in the area, as it enriches community diversity and demonstrates inclusion. Ted Merchant’s vision included that “We want the surrounding community to respect the people of Villa de Vida”, and indeed by having constant engagement, respect and mutual familiarity are being built. Villa de Vida has essentially become a community hub for disability inclusion, influencing not just those who live there but all who volunteer, work, or neighbor around it.
Question 5: Can this model be replicated elsewhere, and what are the key factors for success?
Answer: Absolutely, the Villa de Vida model can be replicated; the developers and founders intended it as a blueprint for others.
Key factors for success include:
Strong Cross-Sector Partnership: A replicable project will benefit from having both a mission-driven sponsor (often a nonprofit formed by parents/advocates, like Villa de Vida, Inc.) and an experienced housing developer working together. This blend brings together knowledge of the target population’s needs and technical know-how in financing and constructing housing. Communities looking to replicate should forge partnerships between disability advocates and affordable housing developers early on.
Reliable Funding Streams (Capital and Rental Subsidies): Villa de Vida’s replication requires tapping into affordable housing funding mechanisms. The success at Poway was heavily due to securing Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and Project Based vouchers. Any replication will likely need to pursue similar funding.
Typically, tax credits provide the bulk of capital, thus needing competitive applications at the state level, and project-based vouchers or similar subsidies which ensure affordability to very low-income tenants. Engaging local government support is crucial: Villa de Vida had City of Poway and County of San Diego backing, which made their tax credit application stronger and provided vouchers.
Future projects should align with local housing priorities (e.g., include units in state/local special needs housing programs) and gather political will. It helps to demonstrate the community need with data (Villa de Vida leveraged data about aging caregivers and lack of housing), which any replicating group should compile for their region.
Community Buy-In and Zoning Support: Poway’s approval of a 54-unit building for adults with I/DD was a big win; not all communities might initially understand or embrace such a project. Villa de Vida invested time in community outreach, addressing any NIMBY concerns by illustrating that this would be a well-managed, positive community asset. Replication will require early engagement with neighbors, planning commissions, etc., to secure a suitable site and necessary approvals. Showcasing Villa de Vida Poway as a success story (quiet, law-abiding residents and an attractive property that enhances the area) can alleviate fears. In fact, Mercy Housing has noted how beautifully designed the Poway community is, countering any stereotypes.
Service Model and Operating Plan: A replicated project must incorporate a sustainable service coordination model. Villa de Vida’s model of having an on-site Resident Services Coordinator and activities programming, funded by a combination of operating budget, grants, and/or the nonprofit’s fundraising, is key to its quality. That needs to be planned and budgeted. Many affordable housing projects include a small services budget or rely on partnerships with Regional Centers or Medicaid Waiver programs for some services. The exact mechanism can vary, but you need something in place because simply building housing without services won’t achieve the same outcomes.
Resident Selection and Mix Considerations: The Poway model serves adults who can live independently with supports. This is defined by each individual, not any agency or property management. The key is to define the target population clearly; Villa de Vida targeted those “capable of independent living” but needing affordable housing and some supports. You should also ensure referral sources align, like partnering with Regional Centers for referrals. A waiting list mechanism via a housing authority can be replicated as well; in Poway, the County managed it. So early on, replicators should engage their local housing authority to allocate vouchers and manage applications.
Family and Advocate Persistence: One cannot overlook that Villa de Vida took years of persistence by families and advocates to come to fruition. Replication will also require championing by stakeholders who won’t give up through what can be a multi-year development process. The impetus often must come from a dedicated group (like a nonprofit board of parents) that pushes the idea and collaborates with professionals to realize it. Encouragingly, Villa de Vida’s example arms those champions with proof that it can be done.
The early outcomes from Poway are encouraging: we are already considering it a model for future residences to support people with disabilities in living healthy, independent lives. They wouldn’t say that unless they believed it was replicable.
One more factor: Measurement and Success Stories. To aid replication, projects should document their successes; improvements in residents’ skills, health, employment, satisfaction, etc. You can use Villa de Vida as an example where residents are thriving, and this can persuade funders and officials elsewhere. Indeed, Villa de Vida residents have a vibrant community and are doing well, and parents are relieved. That narrative helps convince others to invest in replication.
In conclusion, replication is very feasible given the right collaboration, financing, supportive local policy, and committed advocacy. The need is certainly widespread (virtually every community has aging caregivers and adults with I/DD needing homes), which creates urgency.
It is Villa de Vida’s hope that our Poway project is just the beginning of a broader movement. The formula, nonprofit advocacy + housing developer + public funding + service coordination, is now tested. Communities looking to emulate it should gather stakeholders and, if needed, can consult Villa de Vida for advice, to share lessons learned, etc. With persistence, we could indeed see many “Villa de Vida-like” communities across the country, each adapted to its locale but following the successful template established in Poway.
Question 6: How can community members or organizations support Villa de Vida’s mission and the development of similar housing?
Answer: Supporting Villa de Vida and its mission can take many forms, depending on who you are:
Local Community Members: If you’re a neighbor or local citizen, the simplest support is to welcome and include Villa de Vida residents in the community. Support their participation in local events, say hello, make them feel that Villa de Vida is a valued part of Poway. Additionally, you can volunteer your time at Villa de Vida; for example, help at an event or become a buddy in the Social Club. Financially, community members can donate to Villa de Vida, Inc., which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Donations help fund the social club services, classes and activities that aren’t covered. Even small contributions make a big difference and donating is as easy as visiting our website. Spreading the word is another way to help: share news articles or social media posts about Villa de Vida’s successes to build public support for inclusive housing.
Businesses and Employers: If you run a local business, consider partnering with Villa de Vida by offering employment or internship opportunities to residents. Many adults at Villa de Vida want jobs, and partnerships with local employers can be mutually beneficial. Also, businesses can sponsor events or donate in-kind (for instance, a grocery store might donate snacks for a community event, or a tech company might donate technical services). Such community partnerships enhance the resources available to residents/participants and demonstrate corporate social responsibility.
Community Organizations (Rotary Clubs, Churches, etc.): These groups can embrace Villa de Vida as part of their outreach. For example, a Rotary Club could include Villa de Vida in its charitable giving or do a service project on-site (like a pancake breakfast, bingo games or holiday gifting). A faith community might “adopt” Villa de Vida, inviting residents to their gatherings or providing volunteers for activities. The more integrated Villa de Vida is with these networks, the stronger the message of inclusion. Organizations can also help advocate; for instance, writing letters of support for the next Villa de Vida as it pursues another housing development, or championing policies that fund such housing.
Advocates and Policymakers: If you’re in a position of influence, you can support Villa de Vida’s next community. Advocate for funding streams dedicated to special needs housing. Share data and stories from Villa de Vida to illustrate the need and success (like the stat that 25% of caregivers are 60+, or that with proper housing “residents thrive”). Policymakers can help by allocating land or grants for similar projects, and by ensuring housing policies are flexible enough to allow developments where 100% of units serve people with disabilities.
Developers and Housing Organizations: If you’re a developer or part of a housing authority or foundation, you can support by collaborating with us on future projects. All involvement was key; other developers can step up to partner with disability nonprofits in their areas. Housing finance agencies can create incentives or set-asides for I/DD housing. Even market-rate developers SHOULD consider including a portion of units for adults with I/DD in new developments. Although Villa de Vida’s full-community approach is unique, inclusion in mixed housing is another piece of the puzzle. Villa de Vida would be happy to provide support services to any and all.
Similar to other nonprofits, Villa de Vida also has specific fundraising events and awareness campaigns. Joining those, like attending our annual Fiesta de Vida event, is a direct way to contribute.
The Villa de Vida team often invites supporters to see the community. You could take a tour or attend an open house, which might inspire you to become an ambassador for our cause.
In supporting Villa de Vida, you are supporting a larger movement. As community partners rally around these types of projects, it sends a clear message that our society values people with developmental disabilities as full members of the community. It also demonstrates demand and backing for more such housing, which can influence decision-makers.
Every volunteer hour, every donation, every inclusive act contributes to Villa de Vida’s sustainability and to the case for replicating it. Given that this is just the beginning of our story, community support will help write the next chapters - new Villa de Vida communities in other cities, or expanded programs that further empower residents.
What to do next:
If you’re a developer or community partner inspired by Villa de Vida’s model, start by connecting with organizations in the I/DD community, whether it’s Villa de Vida itself or local disability nonprofits in your area. Learn about the needs and begin discussions about potential partnerships.
Consider visiting Villa de Vida Poway (or similar communities) to see firsthand how it operates; this can provide insight and build the case for stakeholders back home.
Advocate for funding: use Villa de Vida’s success to push for local housing trust funds or state programs to include projects for adults with special needs. Engage your housing authority about setting aside vouchers or units for this purpose.
On a community level, start a conversation; host a panel or workshop on innovative housing like Villa de Vida, bringing together families, developers, and officials to spark interest. Invite us to speak to your community. If you’re a community member, volunteer or donate to Villa de Vida now to strengthen what’s here – your support is proof that the community cares.
For all partners, a key step is to form a coalition or task force dedicated to special needs housing, much like the team that gave birth to Villa de Vida. Rally those aging caregivers, service agencies, and potential funders around a common goal. With collective effort, you can replicate and even expand on Villa de Vida’s collaborative, empowering model, creating more communities where adults with developmental disabilities can truly “live life fully” in their own homes.