Residential Services provide people with intellectual and developmental disabilities a variety of supports using a Person-Centered and Trauma-Informed Care approach. There are numerous homes throughout Erie, Chautauqua, Niagara and Monroe Counties. Each has qualified staff available 24 hours a day. There are a variety of unique homes for people looking for particular services, including homes for children, specialized homes for people with complex medical needs, several apartment options and so much more. All residential services are certified through the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities.
Additional residential programs include family care in which families open their home to individuals with developmental disabilities; and supportive apartments designed for people who are more independent yet require some guidance on a regular basis. In addition to more traditional group homes and supportive apartments, innovative “person-centered” housing is being developed. Persons with a developmental disability are eligible.
Hours: 24-hour supervision or dependent on the needs of the person
Services
Individual Residential Alternative (IRA)
Erie, Niagara, Monroe and Chautauqua (Northern)
Community-based certified housing
Age: Varies
Designed to accommodate each person's unique residential needs, IRAs provide people with developmental disabilities a variety of supports using a person-centered and trauma-informed care approach. Staff are specially trained to encourage the highest level of independence and decision making through 24-hour care (or less if needed) in urban, suburban and rural locations. Residential staff provides support with daily living skills, goals, medical and behavioral health care. Staff also support and encourage community activities and building relationships with natural supports. During the day, a person may attend a day program, school, or work in a supported employment placement.
Intermediate Care Facilities (ICF)
Erie
Community-based certified housing
Eligibility: Significant need in the area of adaptive behavior and/or self care.
Age: 18+
Residential settings designed to meet the needs of people with developmental disabilities requiring more support and/or training in their home to live in the community. ICFs provide enriched staffing ratios to accommodate the varied needs of the residents, including social workers, OT/PT/Speech therapists, nursing, nutritional services, behavioral services and recreation staff. Residential staff assist with daily living skills, goals and medical and behavioral health care. During the day, a person may attend a day program, school, or work in a supported employment placement.
Children's Residential Services
Erie
Children’s Residential Services aim to provide a structured, nurturing environment with clearly defined expectations and an individualized plan of services that gives recognition to unique learning styles. Each child is supported in the areas of social-emotional and character development, academics, self-management and play. This residential setting supports children and their families to prepare children for an adult residential setting. The involvement of family is valued, and ongoing communication is viewed as essential.
Age: Under 18
On Our Way @Wayside
The “On Our Way @Wayside” residence provides people with intellectual and developmental disabilities a space to live and build important life skills. Three tenants at a time live at Wayside for a three- to nine-month period and their progress is tracked monthly through an assessment process. The residence consists of three separate pods/en suites. Staff is present at limited, set times to work on skills for independent living. The larger common spaces allow for group learning activities on cooking, cleaning, laundry, budgeting and mobility training. Located in Hamburg, “On Our Way @Wayside” helps provide people with intellectual and developmental disabilities the chance to gain independence by being progressively responsible for all aspects of their “next step” community apartment, while living in a safe practice model.
Guidelines
In order to qualify, a potential tenant must be living at home with family or at a certified site. Potential tenants must need less than 24-hours of support, as staffing supports are set at approximately six hours per week. Potential tenants will be assessed and accepted through our agency intake process; this includes authorization to receive Community Habilitation Services. The expectation is that Wayside will provide people the skills and confidence to then transition into their own community living situation with continued support.
- Tenants will live at Wayside for a three to nine-month period and their progress will be tracked monthly through an assessment process.
- Tenants will be required to sign a lease and pay monthly rent, including a security deposit. Utilities are included. Rental subsidies are accepted and transitional stipends may be available.
- Personal development mentors will hold training sessions on site.
- Prior to the completion of the lease, a transition plan will be created and support will be provided to ensure a smooth move into the community.
Features include: Utilities, air conditioning, accessible/barrier-free with walk-in showers, laundry facilities on site, Wi-Fi and cable in the common area and located near a bus line.
Admissions >
Supervised & Supportive Apartments
Erie, Niagara, Monroe and Chautauqua (Northern)
People Inc. offers safe, functional living environments for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through supervised and supportive apartments. Supervised and supportive apartments are ideal for people transitioning from a traditional Individualized Residential Alternative (IRA) who aspire to move towards independent community living. These certified residential settings ensure that people receive the supports they need while also being empowered to become independent and self-sufficient members of the community. While living in a supervised or supportive apartment, they work on developing skills such as medication management, cooking, budgeting, mobility and problem solving. People Inc. currently operates 15 certified apartment programs for people with developmental disabilities in Buffalo and the surrounding areas and one in the greater Rochester region. Both supervised and supportive apartments are for those age 18 and older.
Supervised Apartments
At a supervised apartment, trained staff members are available 24 hours a day to assist in refining daily living and community skills. With the goal of working towards more independent living, people in supervised apartments work on skills, including:
- Managing their own medications and medical appointments
- Being independent in the home
- Independently evacuating in the event of a fire or other emergency situation
- Learning about modes of transportation including the bus, bicycle, cab, paratransit and walking
- Being competitively employed, working with a job coach or participating in a works skills or other day activity
- Participating in menu planning, grocery shopping, and/or cooking basic meals with staff support
- Basic budgeting
Supportive Apartments
A supportive apartment is a more independent residential setting for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who need limited support and guidance on a regular basis. Supervision and guidance are based on the resident’s individual needs, requiring less than 24-hour support. Those in supportive apartments must have the ability to:
- Be at home for unlimited amounts of time
- Independently evacuate in the event of a fire or other emergency within three minutes or less, and be self-preserving
- Manage medication with support for medication refills and other changes as needed, as well as attending their own routine appointments
- Independently manage own personal hygiene or need general reminders
- Take public transit or be willing to utilize other modes of transportation
- Maintain competitive employment, working with a job coach or participating in a works skills or other day activity
- Plan basic menus, grocery shop and cook with minimal staff support
- Exercise basic budgeting skills, return receipts if requested, show basic understanding of rent responsibility and payment and be their own payee or working towards becoming their own payee
Apartment tours available upon request. | Admissions
Perfect Fit
Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Monroe, Niagara and Orleans
Sharing a home with people you care about is a dream for many. Different from group homes and Intermediate Care Facilities, Perfect Fit involves a loving family opening their own home to a person with a developmental disability.
The program provides a safe, natural, family setting for individuals to receive the care and support they need, with the independence to explore their own interests. Perfect Fit’s unique residential setting welcomes individuals with warmth, compassion, and encouragement, enabling them to gain a genuine feeling of acceptance through stable relationships and community participation.
Seeking new Perfect Fit providers! If you have room in your home, as well as in your heart, then the Perfect Fit Program may be right for you. Contact us to explore how to become someone’s “second family.”
For People Seeking a Residence
If you want to feel like you belong--at home and in the community--then Perfect Fit might be the perfect place for you.
The program allows you to:
- Become a welcome member of a family's home
- Experience the safety and support of a natural home
- Appreciate the warmth of friendships
- Have the space and privacy to be yourself, as well as access support whenever you need it
- Enjoy doing the things you love -- and find new interests as well
- Have the opportunity to build close relationships and interact within the community
- Attend day programs or have a job
For Providers
If you have room in your home, as well as in your heart, then the Perfect Fit Program may be right for you.
As a Perfect Fit provider, you will:
- Join a growing community of caregivers dedicated to shaping the lives of people with developmental disabilities
- Be supported by a team of professionals
- Provide a nurturing environment where individuals can participate in daily activities to develop a greater sense of independence and self-sufficiency
- Build a relationship that endures
- Give the gift of inclusion and independence – not just within the home, but within the community
- Help an individual achieve personal goals and a true sense of belonging
- Receive financial compensation for your generosity, but truly be rewarded by knowing your kindness is enabling someone to live a life of purpose
To learn more about the program, call: 716.345.6161
"I truly believe I receive and benefit just as much, if not more, from providing care to someone who needs it." -A Perfect Fit Provider
