SOUTH
ORANGE, N.J., July 11,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- JESPY House, long one of
New Jersey's leading nonprofit
organizations finding housing solutions for adults with
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, has strengthened its
advocacy efforts for affordable housing for one of the State's most
vulnerable communities.
"Lack of affordable housing threatens the ability of adults with
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to maintain the
independence that they work hard to attain. Housing is critical for
adults with IDD. Escalating rents outpace salaries and
increase this community's demand for affordable housing throughout
New Jersey," said Audrey Winkler, the Executive Director for JESPY
House. "Without significant political and societal change, the hope
of independent living becomes more and more elusive for so many in
need."
Winkler added, "JESPY has been at the forefront of advancing
independence for adults with disabilities throughout our 45 year
history. We currently serve over 300 clients. Locating affordable
housing is increasingly becoming a key component of our work. There
isn't a day that goes by when we don't receive a request for our
services from family members who simply don't know where else to go
for help. Like so many other social service organizations, we are
beyond our capacity."
According to The Urban Institute, "millions of people living in
the United States are feeling the
effects of one of the worst affordable housing crises in a
generation, but for the growing number of people with disabilities,
finding and retaining quality housing they can afford is even more
challenging. This group faces unique barriers related to housing
affordability, accessibility, and the ability to receive supportive
services in their own homes."
More locally, The Star-Ledger recently reported that
"thousands of New Jerseyans with disabilities are waiting seven to
ten years to access independent living opportunities, oftentimes
leading to placement in nursing homes without proper care because
no other options exist."
JESPY House works extensively with statewide advocacy groups to
raise awareness about the unprecedented lack of affordable housing
for the IDD community. Winkler serves on the Board of the New
Jersey Association of Community Providers whose primary mission is
to advocate on behalf of its membership to elected officials,
legislators, and the public. Additionally, members of
the JESPY staff collaborate regularly with their counterparts
at other agencies to share best practices about all areas related
to independent living.
Recently, Winkler and her staff took JESPY clients to
New Jersey's capitol, Trenton, to attend committee hearings and meet
with legislators from throughout the State. In addition to
advocating for the needs of JESPY clients and others with
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, these visits served as
an opportunity for public officials to meet their IDD constituents
face-to-face, as well as to educate the clients about the
legislative process.
JESPY has launched its Go Big for JESPY initiative to
respond to the urgent residential, service, and program needs of
its clients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. This
initiative will allow JESPY to create the proposed JESPY Center and
The Hub. The JESPY Center is designed to be a fully accessible
building that will offer expanded residential opportunities for
adults with IDD including aging in place for older clients and
affordably-priced units for clients of all ages. This Center plans
to enhance JESPY's core services and programs including
vocational and work readiness, education and training, health and
wellness, clinical and behavioral supports, and a library and
technology center. The Hub is also designed as a fully-accessible
building that will create residential units for young adult clients
transitioning to living independently and provide programs and
services including education and training, a library and technology
center, and more.
"Clients have already had to leave JESPY because they could
not afford their escalating rents in South Orange," says Winkler. "When clients are
forced to leave JESPY, they lose not only their housing, but also
their jobs, friends, clinical services, routines, programs,
services, and independence. Our clients work hard to develop the
skills they need to live independently. They do not want to
sacrifice all that they have achieved because they cannot afford
their monthly rents. Our Go Big initiative seeks to create
affordably-priced housing options for our clients so they can
continue to live and thrive in a community that they love and have
lived in for decades. This is home."
"I have a job that I really enjoy," says JESPY client Jill
T., who is employed by Prudential. "But no matter how hard I work,
it's sometimes hard to keep up with bills and rent that keeps going
up. I also think a lot about how my finances will be once I
retire."
The Go Big for JESPY initiative has garnered significant
philanthropic support. In July 2023,
philanthropists Toby and Leon
Cooperman launched a $13.25
million grant challenge to support Go Big and establish the
Cooperman Family Campus at JESPY House. Many donors have already
stepped up and made major pledges and more continue to declare
significant support to meet the challenge and to realize this
vision.
When launching the challenge, Leon
Cooperman stated, "JESPY House has a thoughtful, achievable
vision and a strong entrepreneurial sense. This is exactly the type
of organization we like to support." He added, "Now they are
working strategically to build on their achievements and secure the
future. They work smart, with heart. And the dignity, affirmation,
and independence they teach their clients is priceless."
Clients and their families have overwhelmingly embraced and
advocated for the Go Big initiative, recognizing that it will help
JESPY clients remain independent for decades to come. Local
residents have also launched a social media campaign that has
attracted significant support for the development of The JESPY
Center and their JESPY neighbors.
"I am so excited about the prospect of the Go Big For JESPY
initiative and the new JESPY Center that is being proposed," said
Maria Carroll whose son has been a
JESPY client for ten years. "It will allow so many more people with
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to live full and
independent lives. JESPY is the miracle for so many people like my
son. It means the world to me to know that JESPY is going to
be there for him when my husband and I are not around anymore."
"JESPY has been an essential partner for my son for more than
half of his life," said Michael
Levinson. "This new Center will allow him, and so many
others like him, to age in place with dignity. Isn't that what we
all want for our children?"
"JESPY has provided our son with a home, a vocation, a social
circle and various life skills that have allowed him to live
independently for more than two decades," said George and Cookie
Nirenberg. "Their new Center will allow JESPY to expand its
programs, provide additional housing and most importantly, for our
son, our family and so many like him, the ability to age in place
with JESPY continuing to provide the safety net that has been a
stable part of our son's life for as long as he can remember."
"My son and his friends have found hope in The JESPY
Center, which will provide them with the skills they need to
navigate an often unwelcoming world," said Monica Ward. "[T]he JESPY Center will provide
affordable housing to clients, like my son, so that they can pay
their rents and daily expenses and live in the community they love.
Housing is vital because it is the cornerstone of
independence."
JESPY House is currently going through South Orange's Planning Board process for The
JESPY Center and The Hub. JESPY hopes to receive approvals soon for
this urgently needed residential, program, and service space that
would help respond to New Jersey's
need for increased housing that adults with IDD can afford.
ABOUT JESPY HOUSE
JESPY House is a non-profit
organization that has provided comprehensive services and programs
to help adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to
live independently in South Orange
for over 45 years. More than three hundred clients, age 18 and up,
are supported in various areas along their journey to independence
and leading fulfilling lives. Clients come from across New Jersey and throughout the United States to build lives in a
community they can call their own. JESPY has received numerous
commendations from State officials and colleagues in the IDD
community.
JESPY's services and programs include Day Habilitation,
Engagement & Enrichment programs, Young Adult Transitions
Services, Clinical & Behavioral Support Services, Athletics
& Fitness, Case Management, Community-Based Supports,
Residential options, Aging in Place, and Work Readiness &
Employment Engagement services.
For further information about the Go Big for JESPY
initiative, please go to: https://jespyhouse.org/GoBig or
contact Amy Engel, Director of
Development, Marketing & Community Relations at 973-437-3770 or
aengel@jespy.org. For press-related inquiries, email Sonya Kimble-Ellis, Senior Media and
Communications Specialist, at skimble-ellis@jespy.org.
PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION, CONTACT:
SONYA
KIMBLE-ELLIS, (973) 762-6909 Ext. 308
or
skimble-ellis@jespy.org
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SOURCE Jespy House