Daily Herald opinion: Yes, in my back yard: Single-family style group homes increasingly help communities meet needs for assisted housing
One of the biggest obstacles facing individuals with disabilities who want to live independently has been the reluctance of neighborhoods to welcome supportive housing projects nearby. The common refrain is, “This housing is important, but not in this location.”
Or, more colloquially, “Not in my back yard.”
Increasingly, as our Eric Peterson reported Tuesday, new living opportunities are being found for these individuals, and often, if someone didn’t tell the neighbors, they wouldn’t even know such housing exists, yes, almost literally in their back yards.
“You’ll be driving down a neighborhood and never know we’re there apart from a van picking people up or dropping (residents) off,” said Rich Bobby, CEO of Little City Foundation, which operates 16 such projects across the Northwest suburbs for adult clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
These projects are typical single-family houses located in suburban neighborhoods. They house a handful of senior citizens or intellectually disabled individuals, often with caregivers working on site. Regulations ensure that the homes blend in seamlessly with surrounding homes.
Every proposal for a multi-unit housing project for seniors or people with disabilities generates numerous rounds of opposition and months or even years of debate before a suitable location is found. By contrast, Peterson cited a 2021 Northwest Municipal Conference study that found group homes already operate in 14 Chicago suburbs, many of which welcome multiple units. Arlington Heights, for example, has 14. Schaumburg has four, with proposals coming in for more.
Such projects are not for every client, and they don’t eliminate the need for larger multi-unit complexes. But they do address a persistent need for housing where people who hold jobs, attend school and participate in cultural and recreational activities in the community can live fulfilling lives in comfort and dignity.
Communities in which these homes operate report almost no complaints from neighbors nor any unusual demands for emergency or other services. Schaumburg Mayor Tom Dailly sees them as a “great alternative,” while noting that he wouldn’t want to “flood the village with them.”
No one would. That’s not the point. Indeed, it’s distinctly the opposite of the point.
Such homes provide a chance for seniors and people with disabilities to integrate naturally into their community, a circumstance that benefits not just them but everyone around them. It is encouraging to find them operating so successfully. We look forward to more suburban communities finding ways to include them in their housing profiles.