Legacy Homes

The We Care a Lot Foundation is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities. Founded on the principles of self-advocacy, the We Care a Lot Foundation believes that every person has the right to live the life of their choosing, regardless of abilities. The Legacy Homes program will house and support adults with developmental disabilities who want to live in their own homes, while planning for future needs such as increased cost of living and repairs.

The Legacy Homes program will ensure that your family member can live in the family home for his or her lifetime, with the security that someone will be there to assume responsibility for taking care of the home. Good quality and affordable housing will be guaranteed for a lifetime.

Program Need

Where you live directly impacts your quality of life, safety, security and ability to access the supports and services you need. Unfortunately, the human services system does not pay for housing and thus is the biggest out of pocket expense for a person with a disability. Having permanently affordable housing through the Legacy Homes program ensures a basic quality of life for your family member that cannot be provided any other way. Housing is one of the ways that families and others can help financially, without impacting the person’s eligibility for SSI and Medi-Cal services.

A plan for housing through the Legacy Homes program can take account of the support services a person will eventually receive, and can ensure the housing arrangement is best for attracting providers, minimizing residential staff turnover, and accommodating a housemate, if needed, to share support services.

Program Explanation

The Legacy Homes program of the We Care a Lot Foundation will house and support adults with developmental disabilities who want to live in their own homes, but cannot afford to do so because of the high cost of living. Family members will have the opportunity to donate a family home to We Care a Lot Foundation, leaving a legacy beyond the life of a loved one with a disability so that accessible, high-quality affordable housing is created and maintained in perpetuity. This will be accomplished by deed restricting the donated home, and ensuring through excellent property and asset management that the home remains safe, comfortable and affordable into the future.

Specifically, the Legacy Homes program will:

• Counsel individuals and families about future living arrangements;
• Facilitate the donation of homes to the We Care a Lot Foundation;
• Help families establish “life estates” in such properties, if they so desire;
• Forecast needed maintenance and repairs over a 30-year future;
• Ensure that funds are available for such purposes;
• Establish a contingency plan;
• Work with Far Northern Regional Center, families, and service providers (i.e. life skills and supported living) to ensure for a healthy and safe living situation; and
• Ensure your legacy lives on by keeping donated housing accessible and affordable long-term for other people with disabilities after your loved one has passed.