We Are Redefining Housing for People With Disabilities

Housing for people with disabilities - AN ALTERNATIVE MODEL

For too long, the story of housing for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) has been written by others – well-meaning organizations and planners who believed they knew what was best. But at Villa de Vida, we're turning the page to tell a different story – one where adults with IDD are the authors of their own narratives.

Imagine living in a place where you're always in the minority, where you're made to feel like a guest in your own home. This is the reality for many adults with IDD in traditional community housing models, where they may be "lucky" to make up a small percentage, the maximum being 25% of residents.

While integration sounds ideal on paper, the truth is more complex. The problem is not the housing model itself, it’s the lack of options and the resulting lack of choice. Some adults with IDD may prefer to live in a traditional housing community and it’s wonderful that they have that choice.

But what about those who would prefer to live in a community in which THEY are the majority? Shouldn’t they have a choice?  For some adults with IDD, being constantly outnumbered can reinforce feelings of being "different" or "other," quietly eroding confidence and a sense of belonging. Shouldn’t these adults be given options that work for THEM?

That’s why Villa de Vida is redefining what housing for people with disabilities looks like. This isn’t an “us vs. them” model or a “regressive vs. progressive” model, it’s a “let’s have some options” model. As with many things, ability and disability vary widely and the important thing is that a person has as much agency and choice as possible.

For Villa de Vida, the key ingredients to flourishing, no matter your level of ability or disability, are intention, options and choice/agency.

Black and white image of an elegant bedroom with a large mirror and abundant floral arrangements, an honoring of housing for people with disabilities. Text: 'We believe in building affinity communities, not just housing. The difference is profound.'

FLIPPING THE SCRIPT

Villa de Vida takes a revolutionary approach.

Instead of presuming to know what's best, we start with a simple yet powerful question: "What do YOU want?" This question changes everything.

At our Villa de Vida Poway community, 100% of residents are disabled, with 80% having IDD. This isn't segregation – it's celebration.

It's creating a space where everyone belongs, where being different is the norm, and where no one feels like the exception. That’s how we imagine special needs housing.

Think about the last time you felt truly at home. Was it because you were trying to fit into someone else's mold, or because you could simply be yourself?

We believe in building affinity communities, not just housing. The difference is profound.

An affinity community is a place where shared experiences create natural bonds, where understanding is immediate, and where acceptance isn't something you must earn – it's the foundation our communities for adults with special needs are built upon.

It’s similar to a senior living community where everyone is 55+, not because it HAS to be that way or because it’s the BEST or ONLY way, but because it should be an option for those who want it. It’s about options, choice and intentional living.

EMPOWERING THE DREAMERS

This is why we reject the cookie-cutter approach to supportive housing. Every person with IDD has their own dreams, capabilities, and definition of success. Our role isn't to prescribe their path but to help them discover and pursue it.

When Jake, one of our residents, wanted to lead art discussions for the community, we didn't hand him a manual or tell him to follow predetermined steps. Instead, we asked him what support he needed to make his vision reality. Over half of the residents attended his first meeting.

Image of a person gazing upward with soft lights in the background, depicting happiness in housing for people with disabilities. Text: 'At Villa de Vida, we measure success by how well we adapt to support each resident’s individual journey.'

Helping Jake bring his dream to life is just one example of how we’re building confidence, community, and connection.

EXPANDING THE NARRATIVE

Disabled advocates have fought hard to create a more accessible and inclusive society, getting laws such as the ADA, which benefits everyone, not just people with disabilities. It’s led to some great communities that are disability-inclusive or disability-forward. These options have been a wonderful choice for many adults with IDD and Villa de Vida fully supports these options.

Here again, the key words are CHOICE and OPTIONS.

Villa de Vida is not advocating against disability-inclusive and disability-forward communities, we are advocating expanding the options. We don’t think either option should be the only option.

You can think about it in a similar way to the long, hard struggle of women to be able to choose their career path. They didn’t want the ONLY option to be “say home and have kids”. They were fighting for freedom of choice. It would be a mistake to think that because women fought hard to be let into the workplace outside the home, that staying home and having kids is somehow an affront to those achievements.

The struggle of any group to gain rights equal to that of the dominant group does not negate the options they had prior to greater inclusion / equality. Again, it’s about choice and options.

MEASURING SUCCESS

In many communities, success is measured by how well residents fit into pre-existing programs. At Villa de Vida, we measure success by how well we adapt to support each resident's individual journey. This might mean creating new programs, modifying existing ones, or sometimes stepping back to let natural community leadership emerge.

The result?

  • A vibrant community where residents don't just live – they thrive.

  • Where leadership isn't imposed from above but grows organically from within.

  • Where "community" isn't just a buzzword but a lived reality, created and sustained by the very people who call Villa de Vida home.

Black and white photo of a diverse group of people smiling together outdoors, some using assistive devices, with the text: 'At Villa de Vida, "community" isn’t just a buzzword - it’s a lived reality.'

This is what happens when you believe in the power of giving people choices, of meeting them where they are, and of letting them define their own success.

This is what happens when you build a community that doesn't just accommodate differences but celebrates them.

This is Villa de Vida. And this is just the beginning of our story.

Compass with the word 'Mission' in bold gold letters and a gold arrow, featuring Villa de Vida’s mission statement: creating communities where adults with developmental challenges can live life fully.
Compass with the word 'Vision' and a green sphere overlaid with the Villa de Vida vision: providing safe affordable housing, education, recreation, and meaningful relationships.
Compass with the word 'Values' in bold red letters and Villa de Vida’s values statement: community, service, truth, dignity, graciousness, inclusion, and respect, integrated into all actions.

We would love to hear from you!

We’re in the early stages of building a second community and would love to know what you think? Send us a message and share your ideas, questions, concerns, and support. We would love to hear from you.

We are redefining the traditional "apartments for people with disabilities" model. We hope you will join us in this important and life-giving work.