Housing and Residential Supports

As part of the transition from childhood to adult life, planning inevitably includes housing decisions. Finding and securing housing and residential supports for adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) can be challenging for the individual and the family. Autism Speaks is trying to make this overwhelming journey easier through a series of tools to guide you through the process of establishing residential services and supports for your loved one with autism. By giving you the tools you need to make housing choices, we hope to make this often complicated journey as simple and successful as possible.

The Housing and Residential Supports section of the Autism Speaks website contains several sections that will provide you with the information you need, help you search for housing options, and keep you informed of promising developments, resources, and news in housing and residential supports.

To view Autism Speaks position statement on housing and residential supports, click here.

Autism Speaks Housing and Residential Supports Tool Kit

A tool kit to assist individuals and families as they identify and secure appropriate residential supports and services. The purpose of this tool kit is to:

• Provide an overview of housing options and the supports and services often needed by adults with autism.
• Describe options for funding capital costs, operating costs and residential services and supports.
• Create a structure to help families and, to the extent possible, an individual with autism, consider and plan for the types of residential services and supports needed.
• Serve as a catalyst for expanding opportunities to meet the housing needs of people with autism.

Click here to read the Housing and Residential Supports Tool Kit.

Catalog of Housing and Residential Services

This catalog allows you to see a full list of residential service providers in the Autism Speaks Resource Guide from around the country, and to search for housing options and residential support services by state.

Click here to search the catalog.

*Note: If there are any Residential Services you'd like included in our catalog, click here for the service submission form.

Home of the Month: Jay Nolan Community Services
Each month, we will feature a home that supports adults with autism in a different part of the country.
Jay Nolan Community Services (JNCS) was established in 1975, and today is the leading provider of personalized support services in California. They are nationally recognized for offering high-quality individualized support and planning to adults with autism to enable them to live in their own homes, have jobs, and participate fully in community activities.
Click here to learn more.

*Note: If you know of any residential services and supports that you'd like to recommend for the House of the Month, email us at Housing@AutismSpeaks.org.

Housing Resources

The Corporation for Supportive Housing
CSH is a national non-profit organization that helps communities create permanent housing with services to prevent and end homelessness.

Creative Housing Solutions LLC
Creative Housing Solutions provides consulting, technical support, planning and ownership advice, architectural support services, and education in support of the design of environments that support people with varying abilities, interests and lifestyles.

Opening Doors: A Discussion of Residential Options for Adults Living with Autism and Related Disorders
A collaborative study by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Arizona, Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC), the Arizona State University (ASU) Stardust Center for Affordable Homes and the Family and the ASU Herberger Institute School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.

National Association of Residential Providers for Adults with Autism
NARPAA is an organization that works to assure the availability of residential services and other supports for adults with autism throughout their lives.

Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism
AFAA is a national consortium of organizations working together, led by the vision of individuals with autism and their families, to promote a collaborative spirit and develop both public and private sector support that improve the lives of adults living with autism.

Autism Speaks Transition Tool Kit
The Autism Speaks Transition Tool Kit was created to serve as a guide to assist families on the journey from adolescence to adulthood. The Tool Kit contains a Housing section with information and resources related to residential services and young adults and adults with autism.

The Disability Opportunity Fund
The Disability Opportunity Fund finances creative, highly scalable solutions for people with disabilities and their families. The DOF provides capital and advisory services to its clients, and double bottom line returns to its investors.

Hello Housing
We do more than develop affordable housing for underserved communities. We help transform lives. By bringing together a unique mix of partners and resources, we turn compelling ideas into meaningful solutions.

A National Review of Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders
This Policy Research Brief summarizes the results of a national study on the status of Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) for persons with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Published by the Research and Training Center on Community Living, Institute on Community Integration at the College of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota.

Housing Options for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Bureau of Autism Services, Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare
In this report, the Bureau of Autism Services provides critical information on housing to a range of agencies and individuals. The core of the report is the description of 22 housing models. A typology of seven different housing settings was developed. These include: remaining at home, family living, renting an apartment or home, purchasing a home, shared housing, intentional communities and licensed facilities.

Foundation for Autism Support and Training: ARCHway to Independence
Provides consultation to families of transitioning teens and adults with ASD on issues related to community housing, living and lifespan planning.

Independent Living Resarch Utilization
ILRU Directory of Centers for Independent Living and Statewide Independent Living Councils. 

SocialServe.com 
NPI/Socialserve.com is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to helping people access affordable housing and supportive services.

ARCH - Federal Funding and Support Opportunities for Respite
This guide provides basic information about each of the federal programs that can provide respite funding or support.

Housing and Adults with Autism in the News

Sheltered Workshops Offer Little Benefit, Studies Find
Disability Scoop - disabilityscoop.com

Dan Marino's Foward Pass for Adults with Developmental Disabilities
Autism Bulletin - autismbulletin.blogspot.com

People with ASD Have Much to Offer Employers
New Jersey Jewish News - njjewishnews.com

Autism Program Set
Asbury Park Press - app.com

Metro Detroit Firm Awards $1 Million in Free Services to Farm for Mentally Disabled Adults, Other Charities
MLive.com

Survey Points to Gaps in Pennsylvania Autism Services
newsworks.org

Sketching Skills: Collaboration Between Google, U. Benefits Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Deseret News - deseretnews.com

Adults with Autism Face Barriers
ABC 7 Chicago - abclocal.go.com

Hill Group Developing a Future for Those with Autism
Chestnut Hill Local - chestnuthilllocal.com

Diversity of Autism Offers HR Challenges
Human Resource Executive Online - hreonline.com

Federal Home Loan Bank of New York Awards $33.6 Million for 57 Affordable Housing Initiatives
Yahoo! News - news.yahoo.com

Riverside Foundation Uses Technology to Give Autistic Residents a Voice
Lincolnshire Review - lincolnshire.suntimes.com

British Adults with Autism 'Invisible'
United Press International - UPI.com

Delivering Jobs at the Center for Vocational Rehabilitation
Toms River Patch - tomsriver.patch.com

Some Employers Find Those with Autism Especially Suited for Jobs
napervillesun.suntimes.com

'Cafe Blends' Offers Avenue for Young Adults with Autism
11Alive.com - WXIA TV, Atlanta

Education, Employment and Adults with Autism
ABClocal.go.com - ABC 7, Los Angeles

Dissembly Required: E-waste finds greater purpose at Green Vision
DailyRecord.com

Vacant Church to Become Hands-On Classroom
WNEP.com - 16 WNEP TV, Pennsylvania

Out of the Dark: Autistic Cicero Man Holding his Own
MySuburbanLife.com

Developmentally Disabled Adults Discover the Joy of Independence in Hanover
New Jersey-Real Time News

Despite State Promises, Community Care Waiting Lists Grow
Newsleader.com

Designing the Future: NonPareil Institute
AutismAfter16.com

Christie Administration Announces $5.1 Million Municipal Investment
In Special Needs Housing Initiative
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs

We would love to hear from you! If you have resources, stories or news articles related to housing and residential supports for individuals with autism, please submit them to Housing@AutismSpeaks.org. 

Click here for a list of the Autism Speaks Housing Committee Members.