The Presbyterian Home for Children announced a $25,000 grant from Honda to support critical sidewalk safety improvements at its Union Village community where residents who are Deaf, Blind, DeafBlind, and multi-disabled receive critical wrap-around services from the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind. The contribution will help advance the PHFC’s and AIDB’s work of providing Union Village with creating safer, more accessible pathways for residents.
The one-time gift will support sidewalk improvements across both phases of the permanent supportive housing community located at the back of the Home’s Talladega campus. Planned work includes backfilling existing sidewalks and constructing new sidewalks. These upgrades will shorten walking distances, improve navigation, and significantly enhance safety for residents, particularly those who are Blind or DeafBlind.
Union Village is a first-of-its-kind housing community in Alabama designed to provide safe, affordable and accessible housing for individuals with sensory and multiple disabilities. The community features ADA-compliant homes with zero-step entry, assistive technology, sensory-friendly lighting, and other accessibility enhancements. Phase 1, completed in 2017, includes five large cottages serving up to 30 residents, while Phase 2 in recent years added 12 fully occupied tiny cottages.
Just a half mile away, Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind provides critical wrap-around services to Union Village residents, including employment opportunities, case management, transportation, assistive technology, Braille production, social services and more. Together, PHFC and AIDB create a supportive environment that empowers residents to live as independently as possible.
“This generous investment from Honda is about more than sidewalks – it’s about safety, dignity and peace of mind for the residents living at Union Village,” said PHFC CEO Doug Marshall. “By improving the infrastructure of Union Village, Honda is helping us create a stronger foundation where residents can feel secure, supported and free to focus on building brighter futures.”
The need for accessible, affordable housing for individuals who are Deaf, Blind, DeafBlind, and multi-disabled remain significant. Many individuals face unsafe or inadequate living conditions that do not accommodate their needs. In a recent study, 94 percent of Deaf, Blind or DeafBlind respondents said they would move to a community like Union Village if affordable, accessible housing were available.
Union Village is helping meet that need by providing permanent supportive housing for low-income residents with sight and hearing disabilities from across Alabama. For many, it offers not only a safe place to live, but also a renewed sense of independence and belonging.
Resident Jim Bob Rutlin, who is Blind and has lived in Union Village since 2019, describes the impact simply: “I’d rather live here than anywhere else. It’s the next best thing to heaven.”
The $25,000 contribution was awarded through Honda’s corporate giving efforts, which support nonprofit organizations and community-based initiatives across the country. Honda is committed to inspiring and empowering its associates to get involved in the communities where they live and work. Through its Community pillar, the company supports programs that uphold the cultures, heritages, and traditions of local communities and help foster strength and resilience.
