Columbia Housing Corporation In 1988, CHC developed a group home acquisition and property management program for physically and mentally challenged individuals. Supported Living, Inc. (SLI) and Residential Opportunities, Inc. (ROI) resulted from a consortium of agencies comprised of the Howard County Association of Retarded Citizens (HCARC), Adaptive Living, Inc., Catholic Charities, HUMANIM, formerly known as Developmental Services Group and CHC. Financial assistance to purchase SLI’s 18 group homes was provided by the State of Maryland Community Development Office, Howard County Housing and Community Development Office, the Baltimore Regional Community Development Corporation and the Enterprise Loan Fund. The Department of Housing and Urban Development under the HUD 811 PRAC Program, and the Howard County Housing and Community Development Office financed ROI’s seven group homes. Each property houses three residents and a counselor.
CHC, in partnership with Adaptive Living, Inc., was awarded a grant from the Department of Housing and Community Development in 1997 to develop Progressive Housing Partners, Inc. (PHPI). With this funding, PHPI purchased three of SLI’s group homes.
In 1998 CHC, in partnership with HUMANIM, was awarded a grant from the Department of Housing and Community Development to develop Transitional Housing Resources, Inc. (THRI). This entity purchased three SLI group homes.
In 2002, CHC’s continued their successful partnership with HUMANIM, Inc., and was awarded a grant from the Department of Housing and Community Development to develop Access Homes, Inc. (AHI). This entity purchased two SLI group homes.
In 2007, the Howard County of Housing and Community Development awarded SLI a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to perform a major renovation on one of the group homes occupied by the ARC. The ranch style home was totally rehabbed to include Universal Design elements to accommodate the needs of the physically challenged and “Green” environmentally favorable design upgrades to conserve energy.
In 2008, a loan from the County’s HOME Program is funding the demolition and development of a new handicap accessible group home owned by SLI, also to be occupied by ARC. This new home received the Platinum Standard from the National Home Builders Association and from the US Green Building Council through their LEED initiative by incorporating energy efficient design elements, materials and appliances. The goal is for the design and architectural lay out of this group home to be replicated by other agencies working with the mentally and physically challenged individuals.
Awake House:
The Awake House Received a NAHRO Community Award in 2009. This photo site will show the demolition and re-building of the Torrent Row home. The Arc of Howard County, Inc. and Supportive Living, Inc. (SLI) would like to thank everyone involved who are helping to make this project a reality. Special thanks to The Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development for funding for this project, DW Taylor Associates, Inc for architectural plans and development of this project, and Columbia Builders, Inc for building this project. Additional thanks go to everyone involved who have helped on this project, especially the construction trades who have donated their time and labor for this project.
