The Home Possible Project’s Story

About Us and Why

The Home Possible Project, Inc. is a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization headed by our Board of Directors. We are using the “toolkit” developed by Visions for Creative Housing Solutions as a guide to create similar type supportive housing residences in the Lakes Region area of New Hampshire for adults with developmental disabilities.

The Home Possible Project was initiated by Lisa and Gary DiMartino. Lisa and Gary’s 28 year old son John Michael has a rare genetic syndrome called Mosaic Triploidy, along with Autism, Epilepsy and other health related issues. They are his primary caregivers, and like most parents of children with disabilities, they worry about what will happen when they are no longer able to care for him. You can meet John Michael below.

According to the Autism Housing Network, “the population of adults with autism and/or Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) is growing. The proportion of children diagnosed with autism has increased from 1 in 150 to 1 in 54 between 2000 and 2016.

Many adults with I/DD will outlive their caregivers. In 2017, 1.3 million people with I/DD lived with a caregiver who is over age 60. Many parents and caregivers of adults with I/DD are worried about what will happen to the person they support when they can no longer do so.”

Approximately 70% of adults with developmental disabilities live at home with a family caregiver. As family members age, a lifetime of caregiving can take a toll on their health. At some point, family members are no longer able to provide care, or will pass on without viable options for care or housing for their loved ones.

Currently, the options for supportive housing in New Hampshire, and in much of the country for that matter, are extremely limited due to a multitude of complex reasons. In New Hampshire, small group homes and Shared Living or Enhanced Care are being utilized which is basically “foster care” for adults. The availability of both these options is extremely limited, and is also unsustainable due to a shortage of providers, an aging population and changing circumstances that sometimes occurs that results in individuals in their care being displaced with nowhere to go!

For example, a family desperately looking for alternative solutions, indicated that their adult child with developmental disabilities was in 9 different “foster care” homes over the past 10 years. In addition, some individuals that require higher support needs are even being placed out of state due to a lack of adequate care and housing options in NH. This creates an unacceptable burden on families, displaces their loved one hundreds and sometimes thousands of miles away from home, and is extremely expensive.

Being keenly aware of the serious nature of the lack of supportive housing options, a coalition of families with adult children with developmental disabilities in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire formed The Home Possible Project’s initial Board of Directors, and our journey began!

Creating a nonprofit like The Home Possible Project, where the home is owned by the nonprofit for longevity and stability and family members are on the Board of Directors and are actively involved with the future of their loved ones is a dream for all!

We are following the Visions for Creative Housing Solutions model which has proven to promote self-determination, autonomy, and independence by providing tailored support that helps residents grow and thrive. Living among a caring circle of friends, with individualized wrap-around support services, allows each person to lead an engaged and fulfilled life, as a contributing member of our community.

I’m John Michael

John Michael DiMartino is a 28-year-old amazing young man from Gilford. He was born in Maine and was premature weighing in at less than 2 lbs with a rare genetic syndrome called Mosaic Triploidy. He also has Autism, Epilepsy and other health issues. Despite it all, John Michael is doing well and is a very sociable and outgoing person. It is often said that he knows everyone, or that everyone knows him in the community, and he is sometimes affectionately called the “Mayor”!

John Michael attended Gilford schools from elementary through high school and graduated in 2016. He had a great experience while there due to the patience, caring and innovative teaching techniques and skills used to help him learn and thrive. At the time, he was the first Gilford student to utilize the C.O.R.E support staff.

John Michael loves an array of different foods, cooking and food shows, watching the news and being out in the community. He enjoys home building shows and going to Lowes, Home Depot and our local hardware stores. John Michael also enjoys being outdoors especially in “sunny” weather, and likes the beach and going on his daily walks.

John Michael visits local businesses and stores where he has developed friendships over the years with staff and business owners. He also enjoys going to the Gilford and Laconia Libraries where he enjoys looking through books and magazines and interacting with the staff and patrons.

John Michael works as a volunteer at Hands Across the Table where he helps to shop for food and make lunches. John Michael lives with his parents Gary and Lisa who are his primary caregivers. He hopes to some day move into The Home Possible Project’s forever home with his friends!  

      

The Home Possible Project is a Nonprofit Organization with a Mission to Create Supportive Housing Opportunities for Adults with Developmental Disabilities in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire