Easterseals Arkansas and CareSource PASSE introduce Roommate Housing Program for independent living

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (CARESOURCE) — Easterseals Arkansas, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities, unveiled its latest innovation aimed at fostering independent living for adults with disabilities through the Roommate Housing Program. The organization hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house with CareSource PASSE at the Palisades at Chenal Valley, marking the formal celebration of this initiative.

The Roommate Housing Program represents a cutting-edge model designed to enhance the lives of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities by promoting greater independence within the community through shared living arrangements. This unique program, which officially launched in October of 2023, employs a tailored housing and matching process, utilizing smart home technology and a shared staffing model to ensure comprehensive support for each participant.

“We have been working on the Roommate Housing Program for the better part of four years,” said Ron Ekstrand, CEO of Easterseals Arkansas. “While the pandemic caused some delays in our launch, this model has the ability to transform the way waiver services are delivered by leveraging technology to increase independence and reducing the need for staff at a time when the entire country is experiencing a shortage of direct care workers.”

David Donohue, president of CareSource PASSE, presents a 2024 Heart of the Community Award to Ron Ekstrand, CEO of Easterseals Arkansas, and Brad Hagan, vice president of adult services at Easterseals Arkansas, for their recent work developing the Roommate Housing program. (Photo: CareSource)

The program facilitates compatibility between roommates through a thorough 41-question preference questionnaire, similar to assessments used for pairing college freshmen in dormitories. Prospective residents are carefully matched based on common interests, with Easterseals organizing social outings and meetups to foster a supportive community before committing to shared living arrangements. Presently, seven adults are actively participating in this innovative approach to independent living, with plans for expansion to additional properties underway.

Collaborating with landlords to secure accessible housing in preferred community settings, Easterseals ensures that each residence accommodates two to four roommates, promoting shared expenses, technology and staff resources. Equipped with state-of-the-art smart home technology, including smart locks, thermostats and medication dispensers, the homes are customized for each resident to facilitate greater independence in managing daily tasks while ensuring safety and security through remote monitoring technology.

The Roommate Housing Program Ribbon Cutting and Open House event featured remarks from key Easterseals officials, roommate housing participants. A 2024 Heart of the Community award was presented by CareSource PASSE, a managed care organizations that directly supported Easterseals' efforts with a $150,000 donation to bring smart home technology vendors to Arkansas for the program's implementation.

"This program embodies our commitment to enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities by leveraging technology to foster autonomy,” said David Donohue, president of CareSource

PASSE. “.Our collaboration underscores our dedication to delivering high-quality health care services while promoting independence and dignity for all members of our community.”

CareSource PASSE, a Provider-led Arkansas Shared Savings Entity, is a Medicaid managed care program for individuals with significant developmental disabilities or serious behavioral health care needs. The collaboration between CareSource PASSE and Easterseals Arkansas reflects a shared commitment to pioneering transformative approaches to community living for individuals with diverse needs.

“I’m very happy and very supportive of what Easterseals is doing for people like me,” said Amanda Topich, CareSource PASSE member. “It gives us independence and hope to live a better life.”

The Roommate Housing Program represents a significant milestone in Easterseals Arkansas' mission to empower individuals with disabilities to live, learn, work and play in their communities. Through innovative initiatives like this, Easterseals Arkansas continues to lead the way towards equity, inclusion and access for all.

For further information about Easterseals Arkansas and its services, please visit Easterseals Arkansas's website.

Introducing Roommate Housing Program for Independent Living from CareSource on Vimeo.