Executive Summary
Our mission is to provide both low income housing and on site services for Neurodiverse adults, couples and families who are still capable of independent living but who struggle with regular employment due to their mental health, or whose mental health is worsened when employed. Our goal is to house residents in a projected total of 13 interdependent homesteads across the country that will utilize subsistence agriculture, and residents will cultivate their land together for greater self sufficiency while gaining hands on life skills. The Neurodiverse population includes diagnosis of autism spectrum, obsessive compulsive disorder, Tourette’s, ADHD, epilepsy, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and hyperlexia.
There is a significant lack of services and resources available for all adult Neurodiverse (ND) populations as soon as they age out of schooling. NeuroHomes allows ND adults to be productive, creative, be supported, and escape poverty, homelessness, debt and discrimination both in and out of the workplace environment. Working on a farm provides a non threatening opportunity for social interaction. The focus on work means that connections with others are not the focus but rather a byproduct.
We provide residents with social interaction, household activities, skill development, guidance and support in a serene rural and agricultural setting. Skills gained by hands on learning methods include social safety, independence, network building, who and how to trust, organization, time management, interdependence within a community, making and keeping friends, mindfulness, recognizing and coping with stress, identifying and expressing emotions, casual conversations, recognizing and interpreting social cues, dating and relationships, levels and aspects of a friendship, social expectations, active listening skills, conflict resolution, problem solving, and reparenting the self.
Our program is the first of its kind, and specifically creates services as well as increases access to services for Neurodiverse adults who are in dire need of them. It creates affordable low income housing opportunities for the disabled, and will be the first ever Neurodiverse community formed by the ND, for the ND. Our entire Board of Directors will be comprised of Neurodiverse members. NeuroHomes will create local jobs and volunteer opportunities, and give back to the local community. We will increase awareness and acceptance of the Neurodiverse amongst the general population, and additionally NeuroHomes has the potential to impact the ways we think forever about the neurodiverse and how they interact with each other.
Our residents will have opportunities to participate in outreach projects in their local states, speaking publicly and addressing issues affecting the Neurodiverse in schools and businesses, both educating and raising acceptance among the Neurotypical population, creating opportunities for Neurodiverse to find others like themselves, all in order to empower the next generation that follows. We will also host retreats each year for Neurodiverse adults who are in need of experiencing belonging amongst a supportive community of their peers. These will be annual opportunities for community networking and building lasting friendships with others of like minds.
NeuroHomes will begin by purchasing a farmhouse in a rural setting in Washington state with at least 20 acres. We will do this by fundraising $3million through individual donations, major gifts, grants and corporate sponsorship, and we will build 50 tiny homes on the farmsite. Each tiny home will be 400 square feet or 20 x 20, roughly the size of a two car garage or the minimum size for a new apartment in New York City. Tiny homes are energy efficient, lower utility costs, require less maintenance and are easy to upkeep.
Our communities will be very safe. Most research concludes that crime is less frequent in rural areas, and it is often speculated that greater informal controls in rural areas protect against high crime rates. Rural police are more efficient and more respected by the public than urban police, but they will still be called as a last resort. A resident manager who resides on site in the already purchased farmhouse will be trained in conflict resolution and non violent communication techniques. We will chose a location that is within 45 minutes of an emergency room.
Our primary source of funding will be from self generated revenue. Residents will pay rent, and staff will be available to assist in filling out disability applications, or to help job search in the local community. The amount that we will charge in rent is based on the January 2021 maximum social security benefit amount of $794, $1,191 with a spouse, and $397 per child. Our 50 homes can house a maximum of 4 residents per tiny home for a maximum of 200 residents. We charge a flat fee of $300 per month, per resident. At capacity that will generate $60,000 every month or $720,000 per year. For our budgeting purposes we assumed a median residency of 100 people for a total of $30,000 monthly and $380,000 per year.
Because we are generating our own revenue, we will become self sustaining almost immediately, and any future donations can be used towards expanding NeuroHomes into other states. Our plan is to fundraise donations and have built at least a dozen more NeuroHomes in other states by the year 2040, providing low income housing and creating access to mental health care for a projected 5,200 minimum Neurodiverse individuals nationally.
A smaller source of income will be a beekeeping side business called NeuroHoney, generating revenue of about $600 per hive of profit each year. Local natural honey sells for a high price on store shelves. By selling NeuroHoney in grocery stores it will not only fund our programs, it will aid in marketing and brand recognition amongst the community. This will ensure better yields from our gardens and will also help the world’s struggling bee population.
Farmland plots will be allotted to each resident to farm as they choose, and will be allocated per person as part of their rent. All of the produce grown will belong to the residents, who will be encouraged to share or trade with each other and utilize canning and food preservation methods. Any excess produce will be donated to local food banks in the state.
Our Core Values
1. Acceptance – We avoid judging things, people and situations as good or bad, and simply see them for what they are.
2. Authenticity – We are true to who we really are and strive to be our most genuine selves.
3. Community – We are interdependent and interconnected. We work together for the greater good of all.
4. Respect – We treat all things, people and situations with dignity and respect.
5. Learning – We recognize growth as our individual purpose and strive to support each other on our journeys.
6. Grace – We know life is about progress not perfection, and mistakes are seen as simply opportunities to grow.
Products, Programs and Services
Our main service will be offering low income housing communities to the Neurodiverse population.
We will have a homesteading program funded from the rent that residents pay, which as a working farm will offer them an opportunity to experience powerful forms of therapy through their interactions with both animals and the natural environment.
Part of their rent will fund supportive services which will include a live in on site residential manager and a therapist who will work on site five days a week with the residents in individual, couples, family and group therapeutic sessions.
Their rent will also fund our resident engagement program that will provide monthly sensory friendly movie nights, a monthly optional shared group meal, and fund monthly group crafting activities such as soap making and candle making. It will invite volunteers from the community to give residents educational talks about sustainable farming methods, mental health topics, and more.
As a smaller source of revenue we will sell local honey from our NeuroHoney bees to help fund our programs and aid in marketing and brand recognition.
Our volunteer program offers members of the local community opportunities to assist us in a variety of ways, and will help ensure that our neurodiverse residents maintain the highest quality of life possible.
Our community outreach program encourages residents to raise acceptance and awareness of the Neurodiverse among the Neurotypical population by creating opportunities for them to travel around the state and talk to schools, business and law enforcement agencies about important issues that matter to the ND, and will also give residents opportunities to network and build relationships with the public. Transportation to these events will be funded from rent fees.
We would also like to expand our services to help other Neurodiverse living off site who are able travel to us from within the state, providing them with support and services as well. NeuroHomes will become a hub for all ND people locally. Our end goal is to generate enough revenue to create a scholarship program for neurodiverse visionaries with a passion for creating innovative adult services or making other lasting impacts on the neurodiverse population.
Primary marketing research
Our target constituency: Adults who are of legal age, neurodiverse of any gender who are low income and seeking housing in Washington state, from any occupational or educational background.
They will experience an increased access to services and improve their mental health by providing them with support in a therapeutic rural environment.
Operational Plan
We will be located on a rural farm of at least 20 acres in Washington state. All offices and regular employees will initially be on site.
Governing structure
Our Board of Directors will be comprised of six Neurodiverse individuals who are known for their activism and advocacy. There will be a President, Vice President and Treasurer. The three other Directors will also be adults in the ND community recruited for their knowledge: someone who is experienced in sustainable farming and agriculture, someone knowledgeable about legal issues, and a mental health professional. Leading our Board of Directors will be our Executive Manager, who is a paid ideas person and therefore legally gets no vote.
Organizational structure
On site Therapist
The average therapist has a caseload of between 25 to 45 patients each week. Our therapist will see residents by performing home visits with between 14 to 20 residents each week through offering a combination of individual, couples and family therapy sessions which can be weekly, biweekly or monthly. They will offer on site conflict management, and will also run a once weekly group therapy session which focuses on developing life skills and will offer residents community support.
They will be paid $46,650 per year in salary, based on a therapist’s median earnings nationally. When we expand our in state services to Neurodiverse adults that are living offsite, we will hire a second therapist to serve them, initially increasing our on site therapeutic services for at least another 100 ND adults statewide. Potential then exists to expand services even further by hiring an additional 2 therapists to travel and provide home visits, increasing our reach and service area to another 200 off site adult neurodiverse clients. With of all programs up and running, we will employ at minimum four therapists and provide services for at least 400 neurodiverse adults who previously were not receiving therapeutic support, in every single state that a NeuroHome is built.
The Resident Manager, (RM), will be a Neurodiverse adult paid an annual salary of $28,476 based upon minimum wage as well as receiving free rent and utilities in their residence. They will assist with various aspects of NeuroHomes management. The Resident Manager will function in the following areas: 1) establishing and promoting a community environment 2) be available to residents & assist with their needs, 3) acting as a liaison for the executive manager, 4) assisting with administrative responsibilities, 5) promoting a positive atmosphere at NeuroHomes, and 6) interpreting and enforcing Lease Agreement and policies. Resident Managers will receive experience in a leadership role and receive an excellent chance to develop management and administrative skills. RMs will also gain experience and training in mediation, non violent communication, and public relations.
Their duties shall include: Greeting new residents and promoting interaction among residents through programs, introductions at Monthly Meals, etc. Coordinating events, programs, area socials, etc. with specific Learning Outcomes. Assisting residents in completing applications for SSI disability, helping to fill out job applications and creating resumes, or aiding in job searches. Actively promoting and participating in housing organization activities and programs. Being available for residents during commonly accessible hours such as afternoons and evenings. Writing reports and document meetings and incidents, within 24 hrs. Enforcing and explaining the lease and all policies proactively during check-ins and Welcomes. Meeting with new residents to review welcome information within 10 days. Check in/sign lease with new residents as scheduled. Mediating resident conflicts in a manner that is timely and provide proper follow-up and referral when appropriate. Reporting to the executive manager, any conduct and behavioral problems associated with their household. Conducting home checkouts. Meet with resident no less than one week prior to vacating their home to communicate and clarify expectations and cleaning procedures. Making daily rounds of each assigned property/building looking for safety concerns, maintenance items, lighting, cleaning needs, and lease violations. Initiate positive resident contact. Maintain general grounds by picking up paper and debris around dumpsters, parking lots, and play grounds, etc. Reporting and documenting, within 24 hours, all necessary maintenance requests using appropriate procedures. Participating in semiannual smoke detector checks as scheduled. Assisting with fire drills as needed. Being a role model with regard to policies, conduct, supervision of activities, acceptance of personal differences, diversity, and accountability. Promoting a positive atmosphere and experience. Organization and tracking of volunteer work, including soliciting for new volunteers as needed. Enthusiastically promoting programs and activities.
The Executive Manager, (EM), will also be a Neurodiverse adult and is our chief strategic creator of ideas for programs and fundraising. They are a visionary leader with a passion for and are driven by the mission, and are trusted to execute the mission of the organization. They will gauge quality of resident experience and resolve resident issues. Other responsibilities include formulating residential policies and procedures, and implementing training sessions for personnel and volunteers.
Outside Volunteers
Our volunteers will have a variety of roles inside the organization, providing vital social interaction with residents. Roles include assisting residents in farming their individual plots of land, assisting in the care and feeding of our animals, tutoring residents who are in school, assisting residents in job searching, will assist in fundraising activities, and there will be numerous opportunities for landscaping, construction and maintaining the grounds.
Resident Volunteers
Our own residents will also be encouraged to take on roles within the community. They will have opportunities to assist in cooking for the community during our monthly shared meals, feeding and caring for animals, or can assist the Resident Manager. Jobs may reflect past employment or build new job skills and could include running a lending library of donated books, organizing a child care swap night to offer the parents a night off, or coordinating other resident activities.
NeuroHomes 