Issue link: http://southshoremagazine.uberflip.com/i/1522957
18 There is a housing crisis out there that you don't read about in the morning or hear discussed in the nightly news. 71% of individuals with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities (IDD) and/or autism, live with aging family members or caregivers. In fact, 24% of those caregivers are over 60 years old. So, what happens when they are no longer able to provide care for their child or family member with IDD and/or autism? This is an unanswered question that troubles families, creating never-ending feelings of worry and uncertainty. As the population of people with IDD and/or autism continues to grow, we must find a solution that goes beyond easing the concerns of the family but provides dignity and choice for this population, many of whom are able to live more independently with the combined help of staff and assistive technologies. Massachusetts has one of the highest rates of autism in the country at 2.4% (or 1 in 36 people), meaning the need for housing solutions is rapidly increasing. SOUTH SHORE ORGANIZATION MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE CHOICE, INDEP ENDENCE AND SAFETY : Written by Robin Young, photography by Kelsey Sheehan Made up of a group of parents and industry professionals, SAIL Home is a new nonprofit organization, founded right here on the South Shore in effort to address this growing dilemma. Their mission is to create housing models which combine staffing, support and training so individuals with IDD and/or autism can live, work and socialize in an inclusive community. In just a short amount of time, the SAIL Home team has undergone extensive training on the step-by-step process of creating supportive housing. After completing their New Futures Initiative training last year, they formed SAIL (Supported Access to Independent Living) Home, a 501(c)(3) organization. They then purchased a building in Scituate with plans to renovate and convert the building into a four-unit home which includes housing complete with assistive technologies, community space and units for live-in staff. The Scituate home will be outfitted with a variety of supports such as Ring doorbells, automatic medication dispensers and smart ovens, as well as a variety of other tools that support and promote independent living. A call center with remote support will provide added safety and assistance. Agents can quickly assess a situation and dispatch someone to help if a solution cannot be reached virtually through guidance and problem solving.