The following story tells about two sisters who were living in a state operated CR in the early 90's.

Interested people wanted to assist in helping one of the women have more independence and control of her life and provided opportunities for trials in a Family Care setting. The service coordinator explained that each new Family Care situation resulted in failure until assisting people realized the failure was a result of the woman missing her sister and not wanting to live without her.

From this pivotal point forward a group of interested individuals assisted the two women in becoming familiar with their options for a continued living arrangement which would allow more choices, freedom and could ensure the two women remain together.

Through the vision and guidance of the service coordinator and interested individuals, the two women qualified for a HUD grant to reduce the cost of construction on a new home. The home chosen, cost $67,000 which was reduced by a $32,000 HUD grant, leaving their need to secure funding for a $35,000 mortgage. The women secured a traditional bank mortgage for $35,000 using their benefit entitlement as their source of income.

The two women moved into their home in October 1994 after approximately two years of planning and meeting. The benefit monies of the women helped pay for their household bills. Gaps in the household budget are paid for by a supporting ISS (Individual Support Services) agreement which each of the women received. These ISS monies are filtered through an agency.

The girls' support includes paid Residential Habilitation staff through the agency along with their participation in the day service offered at the agency's site. The women participate in the hiring and even the firing of individuals who work with them in their home. In addition, their mother lives in the home and provides supervision during the night hours. A small piece of respite is included in the budget for allowing the mother an occasional break.

The extended family members of the women are involved in planning and decision making as much as they can and at the level the women want them to be.

The service coordinator shared that the transportation needs of the women is covered by a van which is shared from the agency for the Residential Habilitation staffs' use.

When asked what has been the most challenging part of helping these two women to get where they are today, the service coordinator shared that a great deal of work needs to be done getting the agency to realize this is not a certified IRA and therefore does not need to be operated as if it is.

She described that she feels it's very important to have services involved or people involved which are independent from each other allowing for checks and balances or a watch dog approach. She acknowledged that the stability of a key Residential Habilitation individual has provided consistency and security.