At Villa de Vida - community isn’t just a buzzword - it’s a lived reality
AN OUTDATED MODEL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. Being constantly outnumbered can reinforce feelings of being "different" or "other," quietly eroding confidence and sense of belonging.
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 transforms 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.
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 have to earn – it's the foundation everything is built upon.
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.
Helping Jake bring his dream to life is just one example of how we’re building confidence, community, and connection.
MEASURING SUCCESS
In most 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.
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.
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.