Community Corner

New Home for the Developmentally Disabled Nearing Construction Phase

The Somerset Hills YMCA in conjunction with Our House, Inc. plan to build a home for six, low-income adults with disabilities adjacent to the Mt. Airy YMCA facility.

Everything except for a written commitment from the state is in place to proceed with the construction of a home for developmentally disabled adults adjacent to the Somerset Hills YMCA on Mt. Airy Road.

The home has been in the planning stages since 2008, and will be built on property owned by the Somerset Hills YMCA, which started a task force to develop a use for that space.

"We looked at various alternatives [for the property] and decided on this approach," YMCA Board member and project task force chair Tom Moschello said. "We decided that this would be a good use of the land, because it's commensurate with the special needs programs that the Y has been providing and continues to develop."

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The house will have six bedrooms, one for each live-in resident, as well as shared living spaces and staff offices for caretakers. Our House, Inc., a private, non-profit that has operated residential homes for individuals with developmental disabilities since 1980, will run the facility. Our House currently works in Union, Essex, Morris and Somerset counties.

Bernards Township approved an allocation of $500,000 toward the project from the affordable housing trust fund, according to Moschello, because the new home will provide an addition 7.5 COAH credits to help the township meet its state recommended affordable housing goals. The new home will be geared toward low-income individuals.

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The next step is to secure operational funds for the home before going to bid for construction.

"We have a verbal commitment from the state that they will support the project. Support means that they will on an annual basis provide the funds for the operation of the facility," Moschello said. The money from the township and other grants will also help provide the money to complete the project.

Moschello said that YMCA hopes to begin construction within two months of getting a formal commitment from the state, which they expect any day.


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