Volunteers of America opens two homes in Jeffersonville

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August 10, 2012

Volunteers of America opens two homes in Jeffersonville

Organization helps those with developmental disabilities

By CHRIS MORRIS chris.morris@newsandtribune.com The News and Tribune Fri Aug 10, 2012, 06:40 AM EDT

JEFFERSONVILLE — Volunteers of America not only officially opened a new group home for adults who have developmental disabilities Thursday afternoon in Jeffersonville, but the organization also gave those who will be living at the residence a sense of independence and freedom.

The home is one of two constructed along Jacobs Lane for Volunteers of America clients. The two were funded by Kaiser Home Support Services and built by Premier Homes in Clarksville. A third home will be constructed soon.

Three adults will live in a home — six total. They receive around-the-clock care and pay monthly rent to Kaiser, which is no more than $850 a month. The staffing is provided by Volunteers of America and is paid for through a Medicaid waiver.

“Volunteers of America is appreciative of the Southern Indiana community and so happy to be part of it. People in this community always step up,” said Janie Burks president and chief executive officer of the Volunteers of America Louisville office. “We are so thankful for Kaiser ... we could not have afforded something like this without their support.”

The two homes opened along Jacobs Lane brought the total to 10 in the Southern Indiana area, which includes six in Clark County and four in Floyd County. Seven of the 10 are owned by Kaiser Home Support Services. There are 27 clients living in those homes.

Susan Burgess’ sister Judy is one of those residents. She will be living in one of the new homes along Jacobs Lane with two other residents. Judy, 69, has suffered from cerebral palsy since birth and her sister said the new home will give her plenty of space that she didn’t have before.

“It’s very important to Judy that she has space like this,” Burgess said. “She was feeling pretty cramped in the apartment she was living in. This allows her to be part of a family setting and be more independent. It is a blessing.”

Burks said the new homes are better suited for her clients since they can be constructed for those with disabilities and wheelchairs.

“It’s very difficult to find property to rent that is suited for our residents,” she said. “There is a great need, much larger than what we can serve at this time.”

Without the group homes, most of those residing in the homes would either have to live with family or be placed in a nursing home, Burks said.

Volunteers of America is a nonprofit organization and through human service programs, including housing and health care, serves more than 2 million people in 46 states according to its website.