Accessible Housing Investments Create Opportunities for Independent Living

“People need to realize that we were born like this since little kids. And nobody in this world is perfect. I make mistakes in life. We all do. But I'm still good. I wash my hands off, my feet off and I’m still kicking … I’m not giving up.”

It seems like everybody in town is familiar with Purdue's positive spirit, according to his advocate and companion Paul Haeder, who works for Essential Services in McMinnville, Oregon.

“When we go out, hundreds of people in a month will say hi to Frank,” says Haeder. “He just has a lot of deep, deep connections.

Haeder finds inspiration in Purdue overcoming the trauma and challenges of a childhood he describes as “chaotic” and even “horrific.”

“He is surviving,” Haeder says. “And he is a testament to the willpower it takes to make it under any circumstance. Frank has had to make his own safety nets.”

Purdue does have one big complaint about his current situation. He says the low-income, Section 8 housing where he’s currently living comes with a series of limitations and rules he considers tedious. The subsidy comes with income requirements that mean if he earns too much extra money, he could lose his eligibility or end up owing far more than the $165 per month he pays. This leaves Purdue unable to get ahead financially. He also complains that there is little parking and no storage units at the complex.

The sale of the Fairview property created the endowment that is now housed at Oregon Community Foundation. Each year a community of advisers distributes small grants for programs that serve people who might have been institutionalized at Fairview in an earlier era.

This year’s grants are much larger and collectively represent the Trust’s single largest investment in the 24 years since it was created. The funding will support efforts to expand integrated housing projects and ongoing efforts to improve the lives of the people they serve. Service providers are thrilled.

The South Hill Commons under construction in Pendleton, Ore. is one of 11 projects recently funded by The Fairview Trust of Oregon Community Foundation. Photo by Horizon Project Inc.

“I am honored to be part of the expanding integrated housing initiatives supported by the Fairview Trust and Oregon Community Foundation,” said Terri H. Silvis, Ph.D., CEO of Horizon Project, Inc. in Hermiston, Oregon and chair of the Fairview Trust Advisory Board.

“This funding is having a significant and expanding impact on our communities. Together, we are forging new partnerships and furthering the work begun with the closure of the Fairview Training Center and other institutions. We collectively benefit from the talents and contributions shared by our neighbors experiencing IDD.”

Oregon Community Foundation Program Officer Michael R. Oreste, who manages the partnership with Fairview Trust, added, “Being able to partner with experts in the field, while providing critical services for our community members, epitomizes the mission and values of Oregon Community Foundation.”

In addition to integrated housing opportunities, the grants also support advocacy programs, including Partners in Policymaking by Disability Rights Oregon.

“People with disabilities and family members have been the driving force behind closing the Fairview Training Center, creating a service delivery system that is the envy of the nation, and developing paths to employment for everyone with disabilities in Oregon,” said Jake Cornett, CEO of Disability Rights Oregon. “This investment in tomorrow's disability advocates will pay dividends long into the future."

The Fairview Trust grants go to nonprofits like Sammy's Place that serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Spaces designed for universal accessibility allow more independence and build community

For Frank Purdue, the prospect of living in a place like the new housing at Sammy’s Place gives him hope.

“It would change my life 100 percent. I’ve never had my own home before. More happiness. More safety. More friendly. That’s what it’s all about. More excitement.”

In addition to his many community activities, Frank Purdue has become an advocate for people who face the same challenges he does. He attends conferences and testifies at hearings. He serves as a board member for Beach Buddies, a nonprofit that organizes activities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Purdue says he tries to encourage the people he meets through this work.

“I tell a lot of people, ‘You know what, look at yourself in the mirror. Don’t give up. You got this. Don’t be shut in the corner. Don’t be shut down.’ We need to be open. Let people know we are here.”