EWING, NJ, October 3, 2018 – Advancing Opportunities received the Lead Supportive Housing Award today at the Governor’s Conference on Housing and Economic Development during an Awards Celebration in Atlantic City on October 3, 2018.
The award is one of three given each year by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, the NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, and the NJ Economic Development Authority. The award recognizes projects that are on the cutting edge of innovation in the fields of affordable housing and economic development.
Advancing Opportunities received the Lead Supportive Housing Award for its work developing a group home for adults with disabilities in Jackson Township.
Opened just one year ago, the Jackson Township property is Advancing Opportunities’ first home fully outfitted with Assistive Technology. The development of this property, which houses four adults with disabilities, was a collaborative effort between Advancing Opportunities, Jackson Township, KVD Architects, and Flanagan Construction. A $10,000 grant from Jersey Central Power & Light funded the assistive technology features.
Advancing Opportunities has shown that adults with disabilities can achieve greater independence when technology is incorporated into their environment. By including “smart home” features in group residences, the agency is also able to improve resident safety, ensure cost-effective operations, and provide better overall resident outcomes. The agency plans to include “smart home” features in future group homes as it expands into other areas of the State.
“To be recognized with a Governor’s Award is a great achievement for our agency,” said Advancing Opportunities’ CEO Jack Mudge. “As one of the pioneers in Assistive Technology for people with disabilities, we pride ourselves on innovation. Our Jackson home is helping four men live their lives more independently than they ever thought possible. We are grateful to all of the project partners who helped make this vision a reality, and we look forward to identifying the host community for our next project.”
Advancing Opportunities, Inc., and its project partners on a totally accessible group home outfitted with the latest smart home technology in Jackson, NJ, were recognized with at the Governor’s Conference on Housing and Economic Development with the Leading Supportive Housing Development Award. On hand to receive the decoration were (from left): Advancing Opportunities’ CFO William Curnan; Advancing Opportunities’ Director of Community Development Gretchen DiMarco; Flanagan Construction Inc. President Frank Flanagan; Advancing Opportunities’ CEO Jack Mudge; KVD+ Architecture Inc. Vice President Patricia Totaro; KVD+ Architecture Inc. President and CEO Kyle Van Dykle; and NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency Executive Director Charles Richman.
