Greater Cincinnati Foundation Funds Inclusive Housing Study

CINCINNATI, OHIO (November 12, 2024) – EmpowerMe Living and Kendall Building Group announce the launch of the Greater Cincinnati Housing Market Analysis, a pioneering study aimed at understanding and addressing the housing needs of adults with autism and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities (A/I/DD).

The Make Waves Center for Community Development at the First Place Global Leadership Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, is conducting the study modeled after the inaugural Greater Phoenix Housing Market Analysis. The study will collect market data, identify barriers and explore collaborative solutions across the public, private, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors. Greater Cincinnati Foundation, the region’s leading community foundation, is contributing a significant investment to make this work possible, along with the support of many other leading organizations and individuals in the community.

Self-advocates and families are invited to participate in this study by registering for an informational survey session, with multiple options happening virtually and in-person over the next several weeks, and to participate in the online survey from November 15, 2024, through early January 2025. Register on-line at https://www.empowermeliving.com/housing-market-analysis-cincinnati.

The nationwide housing crisis has disproportionately affected individuals with A/I/DD. With autism diagnoses increasing dramatically—from one in 2,500 children 30 years ago to one in 36 today—there is a growing need for diverse, inclusive, and supportive housing options. AARP’s data reveal a parallel trend, with the number of caregivers of adults with A/I/DD over age 50 rising from 34.2 million in 2015 to 41.8 million in 2020, reflecting the increasing health and housing needs of an aging population. In Ohio alone, it’s estimated that there are 72,000 adults with A/I/DD over the age of 18. That’s more than the capacity of Paycor Stadium, and with an estimated 50% living at home with a caregiver over age 50, it means more than half the seats are at risk for potential housing instability.

“Cincinnati is the consumer goods capital of the world, and it’s about time we ensure the housing preferences of the consumer – adults with A/I/DD and their families – are brought to the forefront in order to effectively address this crisis,” said Emily Kendall, co-founder and president of EmpowerMe Living. “We are grateful for the support and collaboration of our community, particularly Greater Cincinnati Foundation, as we share mission alignment to create a vibrant, opportunity-rich region where every person can thrive,” she continued.

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About EmpowerMe Living
EmpowerMe Living is a developer, owner, and operator of housing solutions for people with I/DD. The firm was co-founded by Emily and Mark Kendall on a mission to leverage their professional expertise in commercial real estate and construction management, and their personal passion to serve people with I/DD like their son with Down syndrome. For more information, including a list of support for the Housing Market Analysis, visit www.empowermeliving.com.

About Kendall Building Group
Kendall Building Group is a woman-owned construction management and consulting services company that provides construction management, general contracting services, owner’s representative services, and subcontractor consulting services. The firm’s leadership team has extensive experience building over $375 million worth of construction projects ranging from multi-family housing, retail, sports and entertainment, higher education, and historical renovation. Learn more at kendallbg.com.

About Greater Cincinnati Foundation
Greater Cincinnati Foundation is the region’s leading community foundation, serving an eight-county region in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Through trusted partnerships and thoughtful stewardship of community assets, GCF builds a more vibrant, opportunity-rich, and equitable region for everyone – now, and for generations to come.

About First Place® AZ
First Place AZ, a charitable 501(c)(3), is advancing innovative residential and community options for adults with autism and other neurodiversities through its vision for fueling a new wave of real estate and community development. First Place–Phoenix, the nonprofit’s flagship property, is an 81,000-square-foot apartment community set in the heart of the urban area and recognized by PBS NewsHour as “the most autism-friendly city in the world.” The First Place Global Leadership Institute leverages this award-winning property to serve as an R&D site, supporting the replication of residential and post-secondary education models and fostering collaboration among the public, private, philanthropic, and nonprofit sectors. Read First Place’s groundbreaking 2020 report, A Place in the World®: Fueling Housing and Community Options for Adults with Autism and Other Neurodiversities. Learn more at firstplaceglobal.org.

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