Sunflower hill east pleasanton nov 2013

Our  Vision  

East  Pleasanton  Specific  Plan  

Task  Force  Mee5ng  

November  7,  2013  

Sunflower  Hill    

Tax  ID#  80-­‐0897595  

Parents  of  children  with  auHsm  and  other  developmental  delays  

Community  leaders  interested  in  the  vision  

Varied  experHse/background  

We  are  local  families  concerned  about  the    long-­‐term  housing  op6ons,  lifestyle  and  ac6vi6es    

available  to  individuals  with  special  needs  

About  us…  

Vision/Mission  

Mission  

 To  develop  a  community  for  individuals  with  special  needs  that  provides  for  life-­‐long  residency  opHons  and  quality  acHviHes/programming  –  akin  to  ‘senior  living.’  

Vision    Sunflower  Hill  will  become  a  model  for  special  needs  living  in  the  Bay  Area  –  ensuring  quality  of  life,  individual  choice,  and  an  ‘intenHonal  community’  that’s  embraced  by  the  larger  neighborhood/city/region.  

•  One  in  50  children  –new  auHsm  staHsHc  

•  500,000  will  become  adults  in  next  decade  •  NaHonwide  –  80,000  are  on  waiHng  lists  for  group  

home/assisted  living  opportuniHes  

•  80  percent  of  adults  18+  sHll  live  with  parents  •  Local  opHons  exist  –  but  more  needed  

•  759  Regional  Center  clients  (ages  14+)  in  Dublin,  Livermore,  Pleasanton,  and  San  Ramon    

The  wave  is  coming…  

•  Living  with  parents  doesn’t  address  care  a^er  death  •  InsHtuHons  are  closing  (Agnew/Sonoma)  –  and  were  

really  only  for  severely  disabled  

•  Group  Homes  are  hard  to  obtain  and  cash  strapped  •  Few  opHons  exist  for  those  with  mild/moderate  

developmental  delays  who  want  acHve  lives  

•  Parents  want  assurance,  opHons  nearby  and  a  life  with  purpose…an  intenHonal  community  

Housing  is  not  keeping  pace…  

Our  vision  of  an  inten=onal  community…  

•  Community  space  plus  individual  living  •  Onsite  acHviHes  available  (gardening,  arts,  

exercise,  micro  businesses,  social  acHviHes)  

•  Work  opHons    •  Freedom  of  choice  -­‐  residents  can  choose  onsite  

or  offsite  acHviHes.  

•  InteracHon  with  greater  community,  families  •  A  sense  of  ‘belonging’  

An  idea  for    Pleasanton…  •  6  acres,  housing  

approx  50  individuals  in  small-­‐scale  buildings  spread  across  site  

•  A  ‘community’  that  offers  a  full,  rewarding  life  

Employment:  Olive  &  sunflower  

Harves=ng  

Community  Center:  Computer  lab,  

cooking/  communal  kitchen,  art  &  music,  

community  living  room  

Physical  Development:  

Outdoor  recrea=on  &  skill-­‐building  

Community  Gardening  

Housing:  1-­‐,  2-­‐,  &  4-­‐bedroom  apartments  

Example  

•  Sweetwater  Spectrum  in  Sonoma  

Example  

•  Beverly  Farm  in  Illinois  

Example  

•  Bieersweet  Farms  in  Ohio  

A  growing  trend…  •  79  NaHonwide  •  12  in  California  

Benefits    

•  InnovaHve  approach  to  crisis  and  need  for  affordable  housing.  Residents  qualify  for  RHNA  requirement  

•  Liele  traffic  and  no  impact  on  schools  •  Akin  to  Senior  Living  –  parents  spend  most  of  their  free  

Hme  ‘scheduling’  acHviHes  for  their  child.    

•  PosiHve  impact  on  typical  community/region  –  interacHons  with  volunteers,  school  groups  

•  Sustainable  business  model  –  economic/employment  opportuniHes  –  providing  independence  

Our  name,  Sunflower  Hill,  was  specifically  chosen  for  its  meaning.  Sunflowers  originated  in  the  Americas  in  1000  B.C.    They  are  considered  gi^s  of  radiant  warmth  and  the  happiest  of  flowers.  Their  meanings  include  loyalty  and  longevity,  nourishment  and  vibrancy.    

This  is  the  vision  we  have  for  the  Sunflower  Hill  community  –  a  place  where  all  individuals  can  thrive.  www.sunflowerhill.org  

We  believe  this  can  be  a  new  model  for  special  needs  living