Description

Welcome to Accessible Housing Matters!

In today’s episode, I welcome Kathy Layman and Janeen Rubino-Brumm, board members of Sunflower Hill.  Kathy has been serving as the Board President for three years.  She has been closely involved with her grandson who has epilepsy and intellectual and developmental abilities resulting in her passion for creating affordable housing opportunities and activities fueled by her belief that there should be options and choices for everyone regardless of their physical and cognitive abilities. Janeen is the current Vice President of External Communications of the board.  Janeen’s passion to create the best life for her developmentally disabled son drove her to Sunflower Hill.

Listen to find out more about:

[00:01 - 03:59] Opening Segment

• I welcome Kathy Layman and Janeen Rubino-Brumm to the Show
• • Bio
  • Kathy and Janeen share their connection with people with disabilities

[04:00 - 10:14] Sunflower Hill -- A Community Model for Accessible Housing

• The history of Sunflower Hill
• A community for IDD individuals to live away from their parents
• The gap between the IDD population vs. accessible housing
• Following the Senior Living Model
• Lottery and acquiring a slot in Sunflower hill

[10:15 - 14:31] As a Community vs. A Group Home

• The people, the services
• Dealing with the extremes
• Feedback
• • Increased confidence and maturity

[14:32 - 19:36] The Importance of Choice

• Kathy and Janeen talk about using other models to give people choices
• Sharing between projects
• The biggest lesson in advocating for accessible housing
• • Talk to people who want to do this
• Most important piece of advice
• • “Start building relationships with key stakeholders.” 

[19:37 - 23:31] Do Politicians Need to be Educated in Accessible Housing?

• Building relationships
• Regional housing needs
• Janeen talks about developers
• Nimbyism
• • “People are afraid of what they don’t know”

[23:32 - 28:43] Closing Segment

• See links below to know more about Sunflower Hill
• Final word

Tweetable Quote/s:

“It’s very important to us to give our residents a choice and the way that they want to live… CHOICES are important.” - Janeen Rubino-Brumm

“A community can come together and really make things happen when you’re dedicated and you bring people with different backgrounds and different talents to make it work.” - Janeen Rubino - Brumm

“Look at each opportunity or each challenge as if it’s something that tells you more and learn from it.  Move on for the next community, what you would do the next time.” - Kathy Layman

Resources Mentioned:

Sunflower Hill Fundraiser, July 23, 2021  https://sunflowerhill.org/get-involved/events/sunflower-showcase/

You can connect with Kathy through LinkedIn and Janeen through LinkedIn, or you can visit www.SunflowerHill.org to find out more about affordable housing for people with IDD and disabilities.

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Accessible Housing Matters is dedicated to raising awareness about important issues around accessibility and housing, and getting conversations going. I'd love to learn more about what's on your mind, and get your feedback about the show. Contact me directly at stephen@accessiblehousingmatters.com to share your thoughts or arrange a call.