Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and Maine have become the latest landscape for CIL's innovative approach to community residence development and real estate consulting services. 

When we began our push to extend the reach of CIL’s real estate services in January 2020 (timing, right?), it started with a simple idea: talk to as many providers, stakeholders, and family groups as we could, in as many different states as we could, listen to their needs around accessible housing, and see who could benefit from our community residence development model and real estate expertise.

While in many ways the pandemic stalled this exploration, as providers were rightly focused on the health of the people they serve and the health of their teams, in other ways it opened new doors for connection as national organizations expanded their digital communities and virtual meeting opportunities. The virtual connections we made during this time were critical to paving the way for our geographic expansion.

We received valuable feedback about where there might be the most need for our community residence development model, and that led us to exhibiting at the 2022 RCPA Conference, where our booth happened to be right next door to a Pennsylvania provider who was very interested in our financing model. About six months later, we had developed our first home in PA!

Since then, we have developed more homes in Pennsylvania, and extended our reach into Delaware, as well as started development consulting projects in New Jersey and Maine. 

While each state treats how they approach housing for people with disabilities differently, one thing we hear from everyone is the need for a variety of housing options.

CIL’s Development Model: The Basics 
- Production model that allows CIL quick access to funding, which allows us to help more people faster. 
- CIL finances project with no upfront cost to lessee using line of credit.
- CIL Real Estate Developers work with provider to locate site and oversee design and construction as needed.
- Typically, a long term, triple net lease (20 - 30 years). Lessee handles maintenance, operating costs, and capital improvements just as they would if they were paying a mortgage.
- Home is donated to lessee at the end of the lease term!

In states where the primary solution for deinstitutionalization was placing people in shared living or adult foster care arrangements, we heard about a need for group home development. In states that had a good amount of group home development, we heard about the need for more apartment style units and housing that supports those who require less than 24/7 care.

People will always have various preferences for where to live, what type of home to have, and with whom they share their lives. They will also have varying needs for level of care and support, which will change as they age. Our goal at CIL is to help meet these varying needs and preferences, and as we look forward to 2024, we invite partners, service providers, state agencies, families, and individuals to continue this conversation so we can work together to build quality housing that enhances independence in neighborhoods across the country.

Let’s Chat!
Samantha VanSchoick, VP Strategic Partnerships
[email protected]

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