Our Story
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Our story begins as two young mothers, each with her first child: Amy, Mary Anne’s daughter, a beautiful baby girl and Franke, Susan's son, a charming baby boy. To us, our babies were lovely and perfect, but they were also diagnosed “Autistic”. In the 1990s this meant that there was a long list of life experiences the “experts” told us Amy and Franke would never have. |
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Here's a short version of the list:
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A perceptive pediatrician introduced us, thinking that we could provide support and friendship for one another. We would meet at McDonalds and watch Amy and Franke play on the climbing structure. We began to envision all that their future COULD be. In this future, Amy and Franke would pursue their own interests, they would have engaging employment, they would make friends, perhaps find romance, and they would live in a place of their own, not spend their adulthood in their parents’ basements. As Amy and Franke grew to adulthood they showed their families so much love and affection. They demonstrated that they understood speech and each has found their own effective way to communicate. They each graduated from high school. They each work and own their own business. Amy making lavender scented products and Franke roasting coffee. They have many friends and are interested in going on dates together. They each live in their own apartment and actively participate in their community.
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How did this happen? Through reaching out, connecting and partnership. We reached out to two other families and a dedicated caregiver who shared our vision, the Couches, the Kalscheurs and Kim Crisman. We started to meet weekly at Sjolinds coffee shop in Mt. Horeb to look closely at independent housing options, not only in our area, but nationally and overseas. For our loved ones, there were no independent, integrated options. In fact, many housing programs for the disabled specifically excluded our sons and daughters based on their skill level. We met for two years, discussing what we liked, what we didn’t, what we were learning and what could be wonderful but didn’t yet exist. When we began, no one in our group had experience creating this type of housing. We didn’t even know what questions to ask, or who to ask them of! But we learned. |
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What we created was more than just a building or an organization, but a set of principles that have guided us at every step.
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Principle 1
No matter how challenging your disability, you can live in your own home. Many of our loved ones face challenges such as relying on others for high levels of support, have sensitivity to noise and activity, and experience challenging behaviors that DO exclude them from living in existing apartments for disabled adults. Vertical Divider
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Principle 2
Low income is not a barrier to living in your own home. Our loved ones rely on social security disability as their income. As we researched this principle we learned about the tremendous need for affordable housing for working people and families who struggle with the rising cost of housing, and seniors on a fixed income. Vertical Divider
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.Principle 3
The community must be truly integrated. People with disabilities have the basic human right to live with all kinds of neighbors, neighbors of different ages, different backgrounds and races, and different family structures. The community must provide opportunities for neighbors to meet one another and build friendships and provide natural supports. At Prairie Haus our youngest resident is about 8 months old and our oldest is over 80 years old. Vertical Divider
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Principle 4
Disabled people should not have to leave their home community to live independently. Our families are all from rural communities in and around New Glarus. Our loved ones didn’t have to move to Madison or Milwaukee, far from their community and the rural setting they are comfortable in, to find housing and support. Vertical Divider
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Principle 5
Our model should be replicable by families and groups in any community in the United States. Why should similar groups in other locations have to reinvent the wheel? Since Prairie Haus began to receive state and national attention, we have been contacted by scores of groups from across the country, looking to create something similar in their communities. Our mission as a non-profit has expanded to embrace supporting these groups so they can create similar inclusive communities. |
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So, our small group, now incorporated as a non-profit called Home Of Our Own, had some great ideas, but we needed help. Other families began to join us. Wally Orzechowski and his team at Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program, gave us wise and useful advice and direction, helped us to clarify our message, and encouraged us to present our ideas to the New Glarus Plan Commission. The Plan Commission gave serious consideration to our proposal and unanimously signed a letter of concept approval. These partners prepared us for the person and organization that embraced our ideas and turned them into this beautiful, extraordinary home. |
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That person is Mary Wright, and her organization is the non-profit, Wisconsin Housing Preservation Corporation. In our story, Mary is our hero! At our first meeting, when we passionately but awkwardly presented our vision, Mary said without hesitation, “we can build this.” She taught us the process of tax credit development, fair housing, and the complexities of leasing the apartments. She patiently listened to us, was insightful and caring for all of the people who would call Prairie Haus home, and never, ever wavered in her commitment to this vision. Even when we disagreed, she was professional, thoughtful, calm, and just plain wonderful! Along with Mary, we have been so impressed with and supported by the professionalism, commitment, and kindness of her staff. Each individual has been a delight to work with. |
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Partners work together, and Mary and Wisconsin Housing Preservation Corporation needed an excellent building design which was provided by our architects Kyle Dumbleton and Chris Gosch. They very carefully and thoughtfully came up with a unique design that considered the needs of all residents – whether disabled or not – including those with unusual sensory needs. |
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At a meeting in which we were looking at the beautiful architectural drawings 18 months before construction was to begin, Mary gave us our fundraising number, $500,000. We looked at one another, took a VERY deep breath, and went straight to work. Our HOOO families and volunteers are incredibly dedicated fundraisers. With humility and gratitude, we thank all of our donors, large and small. We estimate that over 400 people and groups helped us meet our fundraising goal, on time. |
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So, it may seem that Prairie Haus is the happy ending to our story. Amy and Franke, and 17 other people with self-identified disabilities, live in the Prairie Haus community side by side with a diverse group of neighbors and friends. Prairie Haus also provides an affordable home for working people who do not earn a high income. Amy and Franke want you to know how important their apartments are to them. Amy calls her apartment “backhoe” because she would visit every day while the building was under construction and watch the backhoes at work. When she visits her parents’ house and is ready to go to HER home, she says “Backhoe” with a huge smile. Franke communicates by spelling on a board and when asked for his message to you, he carefully spelled “So love my apartment” and then, “Hope has arrived, Home of Our Own is hope.” |
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This apartment community is the first of its kind. But there are so many disabled adults, and adults who struggle to afford housing, who don’t have their own home. Our commitment at Home Of Our Own is not only to continue to support the residents of Prairie Haus with community activities and amenities, but also to support groups all over Wisconsin and the US to establish their very own version of Prairie Haus. Our new goal is “500 in 5,” to mentor and guide 500 groups in the next 5 years, so they can build their very own... "Caring Community and Housing for all." |
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