What if parents and their adult children with developmental disabilities could stay close while their independence grows?
ohana communities is working to create a neighborhood in Utah where parents and their adult children with developmental disabilities can live together or near one another
this is one of utah’s most vulnerable communities, won’t you help support them?
“verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” matthew 25:40
fOR THE FIRST TIME IN 35 YEARS, sharon LET kim WALK AWAY ON HER OWN
Because in this community, everyone knew Kim - and everyone had her back. When Sharon moved into this neighborhood with her daughter Kim, who has a developmental disability, she expected support - but not independence. One day, the founder gently encouraged Sharon to let Kim walk to the community center alone.
She did. Alone.
And for the first time in Kim’s life, greater independence was possible—because safety, familiarity, and community surrounded her.
A place to grow together
Ohana Communities is working to create a place where parents and their adult children with developmental disabilities have a supportive community to stay close, build friendships, and experience greater independence together.
In an Ohana neighborhood, families can live together or nearby, surrounded by neighbors who know them and who look out for one another.
Here, adults with developmental disabilities can build friendships and grow more independent, while their parents remain close and part of their daily lives.
THE OHANA MODEL
Each Ohana Community will bring together:
10–15 single-family cottage homes
One or more group homes for residents who need additional support
A shared gathering space where relationships and community happen naturally
A walkable, pocket-neighborhood design that encourages neighbors to know and look out for one another
Connection to the surrounding community, rather than separation from it
This isn’t an institution. It’s a neighborhood—one designed so support is close, independence is possible, and families can plan for the future together.
PROVEN IN OREGON. COMING TO UTAH.
Ohana Communities isn’t starting with an untested idea.
We traveled to Edwards Place in Oregon to see a pocket-neighborhood model in action—where adults with developmental disabilities can live alongside or near their parents, build relationships with neighbors, and gain independence within a community that knows them.
Edwards Place was completed in 2024 and includes families living with their adult children with disabilities, as well as adult children living independently nearby.
We saw firsthand what this model can mean for families. Now we’re working to bring that same opportunity to Utah—adapted for the families we will serve here.
THE FIRST OHANA COMMUNITY
We are now working to bring Utah's first Ohana Community to life. Our current focus is securing the right site, completing planning and design, and raising the capital needed for development and construction.
The first community is currently projected to require approximately $8–10 million in total development funding.
help build the first ohana community
We have seen how this kind of community can change lives. Now we need your help to bring it to Utah.
Your gift will help us acquire land, design and build the first Ohana Community, and create a place where adults with developmental disabilities and the people who love them can build a future together.
This is more than housing. It is a long-term answer for families who have spent years wondering what comes next.