At CIL we spend a lot of time at the houses we develop, but it’s not as often that we get a chance to spend time in the homes that the people we serve transform them into.

It was a crisp fall afternoon when we pulled into the long, curved driveway at the new Opportunity House community residence in Cheshire, CT. The house, completed in April 2018, was developed with its aging residents in mind, who were moving from a split-level home that was no longer a safe environment for them. Opportunity House, a non-profit 501(c) 3, was founded in 1980 by a group of parents who wanted to develop life-long homes for their children who were on the autism spectrum. With CIL’s development assistance, this single-family ranch was renovated into a six-bedroom community residence.

“Our mission is to provide life-long services, so we do whatever we can to make that possible,” explains Robert Young, Executive Director, Opportunity House. At CIL, our hope is that this home helps accomplish that mission.

project TYPE
Renovation

end use
Community Residence

population
Intellectual/Developmental Diabilities (I/DD)

Elaine's Story

One of the biggest benefits of the renovation for Elaine was that CIL was able to incorporate an activity room, which allowed residents to have a place of their own to enjoy their pastime activities. Elaine’s piano resides in this room, giving her space and privacy to enjoy playing on her own.

“I like having room for my piano," Elaine said when asked what she enjoys most about her new home. "It's pretty good."

When Elaine plays, her love and talent for music is clear - no one would know she is legally blind.

Stephen's Story

“I like it here, it's more comfortable,"  said Stephen. "It's safer," he added, referencing the one-level design.

A favorite activity at the house is basketball. Albert, Stephen, and Tim shoot hoops (right). A fence that follows the edge of the driveway adds privacy and security for residents and neighbors.

Stephen also enjoys the independence that the activity room brings inside the house, with a place for him to ride his exercise bike.

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