Tucked into a corner of Lakeland, Florida, is not just a community, it’s a family. It was a realization of a dream initiated by a small group of parents over 20 years ago.
It’s called The Village at Noah’s Landing.
Noah’s Ark is 150% committed to empowering individuals who have developmental disabilities by advocating on their behalf and by providing or facilitating the choice of meaningful employment, recreational and social opportunities and affordable housing.
A little history lesson: In mid-1997, five families tried to envision what the future held for their intellectually/developmentally disabled children. Where would they live? Who would care for them? Would they have friends? Would they have a reasonable quality of life? Most importantly, how would they survive once their parents were no longer around to take care of them?
The families wanted to find an existing organization that took a holistic approach to providing a balanced lifestyle for their children. One that included a safe and affordable place to live, daily activities that were fun and taught greater independent living skills, meaningful daytime activity either through employment or volunteering and a spiritual component all wrapped in a small-town community environment that embraced individuals with disabilities for their abilities and gifts.
In mid-1997, Noah’s Ark was founded and another year committed to search, this time on a national basis, for that “perfect” organization with a holistic approach. The community that was closest to what the families of Noah’s Ark envisioned was Lambs Farm, in Libertyville, Illinois. This was a campus community established in 1961, and, at the time, was only receiving about 20% of their revenues from the government (as compared to 80% to 90% with organizations in Florida).
In 1998, Noah’s Ark completed its research of other residential service providers and communities across the United States. They clearly defined its mission and wrote its mission statement. In 1999, a monthly activities program was established for its participants and a series of educational workshops for families began.
In 2000, Noah’s Ark worked closely with the Exceptional Student Education Department of Polk County Schools to facilitate the creation of an innovative, high school level transition class that was highly focused on preparing ESE students with the skills they need to survive in “their world” (public transportation, social security, food stamps, vocational rehab, etc.), to elevate their job skills through hands-on experiences, and to get the students actually employed (not just ready for employment) before they exited the program. This public-private partnership has had up to a 90% success rate, as compared to only 7% from the traditional high school transition programs. The Transition Program was named the Best ESE Program in the State of Florida.
In 2001, another partnership, this one with the First United Methodist Church of Lakeland, was formed to build the first supported-living home. The church purchased, then donated three (3) residential lots to Noah’s Ark and also donated some seed money to get construction started.
In early 2002, construction was started on the first home using volunteers from both the church and Noah’s Ark. Noah’s Ark received significant community support from the Lakeland Rotary Club and other local area businesses. The first home was completed the very end of 2002 and was completely built using volunteers and donations from the community… and had no debt service.
In early 2003, the first three residents moved into Noah’s Nest community near Lake Morton and began to live independently. Noah’s Ark worked the remainder of the year to identify potential property for the development of The Villages at Noah’s Landing.
In 2004, Noah’s Ark worked in collaboration with Governor Jeb Bush, Senator Paula Dockery, and the City of Lakeland’s Community Development Department and successfully acquired 56-acres of residential development property in North Lakeland. Noah’s Ark also purchased a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home adjacent to the development property. The demand for activities and social interactions continued to intensify so the activities program was expanded from monthly to weekly using resources and volunteers from the community and family members.
In 2005, Noah’s Ark was awarded a commitment for a low-interest loan from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation to partially fund an innovative, affordable, supportive-housing demonstration program. These funds were subsequently replaced by a $189,000 “grant” from the Florida Hurricane Housing Recovery Funds and donations from the local community.
In 2006, Noah’s Ark retained Giles Blunden, an architect from Carrboro, North Carolina, to design a Master Site Plan for a sustainable, pedestrian-oriented, residential community now called The Villages at Noah’s Landing. Noah’s Ark completed and received approval of its conceptual site plan, its unique zoning, and Planned Unit Development (PUD) application from the City of Lakeland.
Noah’s Ark also formed another partnership, this one with the Polk County Builders Association and the Construction Technology Classes from the Polk County Schools to help build the second supported-living home at Noah’s Nest. This initiative garnered statewide attention by the Florida Homebuilders Association and a desire to use this type of community partnership as a model for other local Homebuilder Associations to replicate.
Noah’s Ark also started construction of a third supported-living home and a separate detached garage with a second story two-bedroom apartment, once again using volunteers from Noah’s Ark and the First United Methodist Church. This project was funded through donations from the community.
In 2007, Noah’s Ark retained a local engineering firm to complete the engineering and apply for construction permits from the Southwest Florida Water Management District for The Villages at Noah’s Landing. Off-site survey work for the utilities connections and upgrading of the access road leading to the property was also completed.
In mid-year, the construction of two more homes at Noah’s Nest was completed and six additional residents moved in and began living independently.
In 2008, Noah’s Ark presented The Villages at Noah’s Landing at the Family CAFÉ, a statewide disability conference, and began educating families across the state on the emerging supportive residential community concept. This presentation received overwhelming support from families and restored hope to many that their adult children would be able to experience a reasonable quality of life.
The demand for activities continued to grow with the activities program adding a weekly bowling league resulting in the expansion of community volunteer opportunities
Additionally, family education and support surfaced as a huge, unmet need. Families were unaware of what support services might be available and the critical needs to establish an appropriate guardianship and special needs trust in order to protect and provide for the future needs of their disabled adult child. Addressing those needs, Noah’s Ark established an aggressive education program to help these families and has since been recognized as a strong community resource for families by other non-profit organizations, state legislators, and the local media.
Noah’s Ark successfully advocated, then lead the charge, to get an inappropriate rule removed from the Florida Medicaid Waiver Handbook. This rule restricted the rights of individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities to be able to choose where and with whom they live by establishing arbitrary quotas and other geographic restrictions.
Noah’s Ark received construction permits for the development of the residential portion of The Villages at Noah’s Landing from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
In 2009, Noah’s Ark advocated to amend a Florida statute that would provide more flexibility in building licensed homes (i.e. group homes, assisted living facilities, foster homes, etc.) within a planned residential community. The proposed legislation did not survive the session, but legislators and support agencies were much better educated on the critical supportive-housing needs for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
Noah’s Ark worked with local county government and received a commitment from the county to resolve significant drainage issues along the primary street leading to the development property for The Villages at Noah’s Landing project and to resurface the roadway. This commitment eliminated approximately $450,000 in future off-site development costs for the project.
In 2010, Noah’s Ark led the charge to create and organize a statewide coalition of grassroots organizations wanting to proactively address the critical supported-housing needs for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities. This coalition of grassroots organizations stretched from Jacksonville to Venice with many points in between. Families were desperately seeking a supportive community type living that would allow their disabled children a reasonable quality of life and for the parents to have peace of mind when they die.
In 2011, Noah’s Ark completed a major rehab of the 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom, single-family home (previously purchased in 2004) in preparation of providing three additional individuals with disabilities the opportunity to live independently and also to provide a future field office during the development of the Villages at Noah’s Landing community.
Off-site engineering for a new access road connecting The Villages at Noah’s Landing property to the end of Melody Lane was completed and construction permits from the Southwest Florida Water Management District were obtained along with site access permits from Polk County government. Improvements to the master site plan and conceptual home and clubhouse designs were completed along with updates to the development budget. The Villages at Noah’s Landing project is very close to “shovel ready”.
Noah’s Ark worked with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities on developing a new approach that would better leverage taxpayer resources while providing support services to a greater number of citizens with developmental disabilities.
Noah’s Ark Executive Director was appointed by the Governor of Florida to serve on the Florida Developmental Disability Council (FDDC) as a parent advocate. The FDDC is a federally funded organization whose mission is to promote innovative programs and practices designed to improve the quality of life of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
The Board of Directors of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) has recommended almost $14 million in funding for the development and construction of The Villages at Noah’s Landing.
Noah’s Ark designed the N.E.A.T. (Noah’s Education, Arts & Training) Center. The Center will be the hub for resident activities at The Villages at Noah’s Landing and it will feature continuing life-skills education, music, fine arts, and culinary arts training. The N.E.A.T. Center will help facilitate the personal growth of a growing number of families joining the organization.
Completed the complex and detailed underwriting requirements to finalize the funding of a $14.5 million commitment (low-income housing tax credits, grants, and loan) to construct an affordable rental community that will provide an enhanced quality of life for up to 132 individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities and provide their families with a peace of mind that their adult child will be properly cared for when they are no longer able to provide such support.
Completed and closed on a $15M low income housing tax credit funding
Began construction of a $17M low income housing community for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Completed construction of a 52-unit low-income housing community for individuals with developmental disabilities. Residents start to move in over Independence Day Weekend…2016
Increased our capacity to serve individuals with developmental disabilities from 17 to 143 residents
In 2017 they had their 20th anniversary serving the community…….
Their Mission Continues… 2019
There are over 22,000 Floridians with intellectual/developmental disabilities on a “waiting list” for services. The demand for support services and family education is enormous and the support services budget through the Agency for Persons with Disabilities continues to be cut.
Noah’s Ark of Central Florida continues to support and educate individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, their families and caregivers…
Noah’s Nest was their first “in-town” initiative and first supported-living home. Phase 1 was completed in 2003, and is currently home to three residents; phase 2 was completed in 2007 and currently houses eight residents. We also have a two-story garage with a second-floor apartment (affectionately called “The Penthouse”) that’s home to two residents.
Noah’s Nest is conveniently located in the East Lake Morton Historic District near downtown Lakeland, Florida. Shopping, restaurants, a library, an art museum, a community theater, employment opportunities, a college, several churches, a lovely park and gardens, and three beautiful lakes are all within walking distance. There’s also a public bus system accessible just a few blocks away.
All Noah’s Nest homes provide a private bedroom and bathroom, though “The Penthouse” is a 2-bedroom, 1-bath apartment. All homes (excluding the garage apartment) are handicapped friendly. Each has a variety of features, including roll-in showers, wide hallways and doors, and an open design to make day-to-day living easier for individuals using a wheelchair to assist with mobility.
Residents of Noah’s Nest currently pay 35% of their total income for rent plus utilities (usually around $70 per month).
The Villages at Noah’s Landing opened in mid-2016. It’s an awesome community with one, two, three, and four-bedroom shared apartments. Each resident enjoys the privacy of their own bedroom and bathroom. The master plan emphasizes sustainability and harmony with nature. Residents can choose to enjoy a variety of rewarding lifestyle offerings, including education, arts, a training center, daily activities, an accessible pool, walking trails, and an optional dining room.
Rents at The Villages at Noah’s Landing are determined by the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program guidelines. Rents generally range from $265 to $568 per month for each resident (including utilities), depending on the unit selected and the individual’s income.
About 95% of residents don’t drive, the pedestrian-friendly community’s road system runs mostly around the periphery of the housing clusters. Comprised of cozy neighborhoods, the community’s homes face lush greenbelt areas. Front porches overlook a landscaped pathway system with benches for meeting with friends and neighbors. The paths are connected throughout the community, thoughtfully designed to encourage walking, jogging, and bicycling for exercise and to facilitate socialization.
The Noah’s Education, Arts, and Training (NEAT) Center addresses the diverse interests of residents and offers frequent social, recreational, vocational, and educational opportunities. Although each apartment has a fully-equipped kitchen, the NEAT Center includes a dining room where residents can socialize and dine together (optional). There’s also, a high-tech game room, meeting spaces, special events, a stage, and an array of activities. The NEAT Center has been built to meet or exceed emergency evacuation shelter specifications to provide a safe place for our residents during “an event.”
The vision is for The Villages at Noah’s Landing to provide a small community atmosphere and a transitional stepping stone for individuals who aim to live and/or work within the greater community. It also offers a permanent residential setting for those who seek a more traditional community lifestyle.
One key measure of our success is that residents have realistic choices in deciding where and how they live, work, and play. We believe The Villages at Noah’s Landing can serve as a model that can be replicated nationwide to provide lifestyle choices never thought possible.
To contact Noah’s Ark about any questions or to schedule a tour of The Villages at Noah’s Landing and/or Noah’s Nest click here.
What do people say about Noah’s Ark ……
Lucille Pivinski said “Noah’s Ark – a community in the truest sense of the word. May all the individuals who choose to live here experience joy, peace, and contentment. Blessings to one and all.”
Mandy Roberts Martin said” Noah’s Ark is AMAZING!! From the people that are residents to the people that organize/run it! This is revolutionary and profound. They give caregivers a light at the end of the tunnel. I am not ashamed to say Noah’s Ark is run by ANGELS!”
Keith Slingo said “They are a great place for special needs adults. The whole development is nice & clean. They a lot for them to do there.”
To get involved click here help them continue their mission by volunteering your time and talents or even donating funds.
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