In 2017, the Presbyterian Home for Children started development of Union Village, a permanent supportive housing community for individuals who are Deaf, Blind, DeafBlind and multi-disabled.
The Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB) provides crucial support services to Union Village to help empower these individuals to live the independent life of their choosing. This housing community is both unique and unmatched in the nation in the serving of a very vulnerable population.
PHFC operates Union Village on a separate and secluded part of its campus for AIDB consumers, and this affordable rental income provides an additional stream of support for PHFC’s programs that serve and care for at-risk and homeless children, youth, and families in addition to young female adults in crisis and families in crisis. Program participants come from across the entire state of Alabama.
The Union Village development is made up of larger cottages and new construction of tiny cottage duplexes. The first phase of Union Village was completed in 2017 where nearly 30 residents live in five large cottages. Phase 2 has been completed with 12 tiny cottages. Phase 3 will add another 30 tiny cottages in the future.
All of Union Village’s cottages provide special accommodations and accessibility to residents. Each home is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and includes zero-step entry into the house. The homes also include strategic placement of lighting and sensory-assist devices, assistive technology, and keyless entry. In addition to the cottages, the Union Village community includes walkways, gardens, patios, and picnic areas.
AIDB’s close proximity to PHFC’s campus, located just a half mile away, presents a unique opportunity to provide residents with wrap-around supportive services. Services include employment opportunities, job coaching, advocacy, case management, assistive technology, transportation, meal delivery, support groups, center-based activities of daily living classes; Braille production for blind consumers; consumer education workshops, and more. Residents also have access to a full-time residential manager, part-time nurse practitioner, and full-time maintenance worker.
