Housing Information

Ultimately the decision to pursue housing and support services means the individual/family must decide how they want to plan and coordinate these services. 

Do you find yourself asking...why use an agency when you are perfectly capable of doing this on your own? With so many organizations and so much information readily available online it can be confusing and even frustrating.   

A Beyond Shelter Agency was created to help you filter though housing and support service options to suit your individualized needs.

Group Home Living has been the traditional model for residential services for individuals with developmental disabilities. In a group home, unrelated people (MAXIMUM OF 3, all of whom have a disability) live together with onsite staff from our agency who are present 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Instruction focuses on independent living skills and community activities. The house is owned and operated by the agency that employs and supervises the staff. 

Host Home - Foster Home/Companion Care Living offers family‐style living with support services available 24/7 by professional (in-home) teaching parents. The individual may be the only person with a disability living in the home, or there maybe others with or without disabilities. All foster homes are carefully screened, trained and licensed by the agency to provide the safest care and to offer the most normalcy. 

Supported Home Living offers services to individuals with disabilities who can live with their family or in their own home or apartment. The services are typically minimal in nature and involves staff coming into the home to assist with care giving. The care is based on the individual’s specific support needs and are provided by caregivers from an agency, working under the direction of the individual. 

Supervised Living Semi‐Independent Living offers more direct and intensive structured supports available 24 hours a day, if needed. The individual may live in a house or apartment, either alone or with others. Functional life skills such as banking, shopping, cooking and going to doctor appointments can be taught or supported by staff of an agency. 

Assisted Living Facilities/Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF) aid with personal care and activities of daily living such as bathing, grooming, dressing, and more. In some states, ICF programs also provide medication assistance and/or reminders. Assisted living communities differ from nursing homes in that they don’t offer complex medical services.