Disabled adults get help with housing

Jennifer Kho

COSTA MESA -- A local housing program is having a mixer for

developmentally disabled adults today to try to continue the bonding that

began at a similar event earlier this month.

“I think a lot of them [disabled adults] sometimes feel that they

don’t have anything in common with other people,” said Kim Rendi, a team

leader for the program known as Project Independence. “It’s great for

them to find similarities with other people, and some found others who

had the same jobs, issues with roommates or similar personalities. It

made them feel more comfortable. Some are apprehensive about living with

other people, but the more they get to know people, the easier it is to

consider moving in with them.”

Project Independence has several housing programs for developmentally

disabled people throughout the county and serves more than 80 people in

Costa Mesa.

The mixers are for Project Independence’s new senior housing program,

which will try to help 18 to 24 seniors move into six homes and share

leasing costs during the yearlong pilot program, said Michael Manchester,

manager of the housing program.

About a dozen housing prospects, and their parents -- most of whom are

too elderly to care for the disabled adults -- attended the first mixer

to discuss the type of housing they’d like to live in, the area they’d

like to live in, their interests and characteristics they want and don’t

want in roommates, Manchester said.

Rendi said a client she brought to the mixer enjoyed hearing

everybody’s stories and sharing his own.

“He’s a very personable guy, so I think he would get along with

anybody. But I think after the meeting, he felt more comfortable just

knowing a little bit more about the program,” Rendi said.

Manchester said she expects to have three or four more mixers before

any of the seniors pick living partners.

Even after some cooperative housing is set up, Project Independence

plans to continue to have monthly mixers, she said.

“We had so much fun at the last one,” she said. “Some of [the

participants] have tremendous senses of humor, and some people found

[common interests] already. Nobody hooked up completely, but several

women loved pets and said they wanted a pet if they live in a home. Some

didn’t like smoking and didn’t want to live with someone who smoked. One

said she likes fish and wanted to know if a pet fish would be a problem

for anybody.”

FYI

The mixer will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at 3505 Cadillac

St., Suite P-101, Costa Mesa.

Information: (949) 549-3469, Ext. 269.