Prairie Haus is a 40-unit apartment building located in New Glarus, Wisconsin. Ten years ago, Home Of Our Own (HOOO) envisioned a safe, affordable, and integrated place for disabled adults to live with other members of their community. HOOO was actively involved in designing Prairie Haus to accommodate all types of disability and raising capital to construct the building. HOOO has an ongoing presence at Prairie Haus to assist disabled residents and to facilitate inclusion and community. HOOO operates in Prairie Haus but does not own or manage the building, or provide personal care and support services.
Location
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Prairie Haus is nestled in a hillside overlooking New Glarus, WI, an area renowned for its natural beauty.
Some of the great features of this area are:
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"This project is really appealing to me, and I think it will be appealing to others like me in New Glarus and throughout Green County. An integrated rental community like this would provide residents with quality rental housing, social opportunities, and less responsibility for home upkeep." - Beth Luchsinger (Green County Board Member & New Glarus resident) |
Building
Prairie Haus is an apartment building designed to create an inclusive community for disabled adults and others.
Some of the special design features of the building are:
Some of the special design features of the building are:
- Beautiful building enhanced by the natural surroundings
- 40 apartments (1-3 bedrooms)
- 38 apartments have affordable rent based on income
- 10 fully ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessible apartments
- Luxury condo level soundproofing for residents with sound sensitivity
- Extra wide hallways and hard floor surface in common areas for easier mobility
- Fully accessible, furnished indoor/outdoor common areas, including two community kitchens
- Building designed to encourage residents to socialize
- All apartments have outdoor patio/balcony
- Indoor walking/wheelchair travel loop
- Accessible raised bed gardens
- Underground and surface parking
- Building management focused on needs/concerns of disabled residents
HOOO'S role
HOOO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established to facilitate integrated, affordable, and independent housing for disabled adults.
To foster an environment of diversity and inclusion HOOO's activities in the building are:
To foster an environment of diversity and inclusion HOOO's activities in the building are:
- Host monthly community events (coffee/music/meals, etc.)
- Purchase amenities for outdoor/indoor common areas and public kitchens
- Serve as bridge between building management and residents
- Provide extra level of on-site assistance for residents
- Connect residents with community services and programs
- Familiarize first-responders with residents' specific concerns
- Provide education opportunities regarding disability-related issues
- Host holiday celebrations
- Poll residents to guide community activities
- Facilitate food pantry available in building
- Foster relationships with community organizations to enhance the quality of life at Prairie Haus
- Share Prairie Haus model with other groups interested in creating an integrated apartment home
