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We know you might have questions about our work, how your support makes a difference, or ways you can get involved. This FAQ section is here to provide clear answers and helpful guidance.
Our FAQs cover our programs, events, and volunteer opportunities. Learn how we're making a difference, how donations are used, and how you can take part in creating positive change.
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Frequently Asked Questions
HOPE NC's mission is to create inclusive communities where people of all ages and abilities experience a sense of belonging.
We are currently supporting adults with I/DD in two housing projects, with a third planned for 2026. While we are implementing our model locally, we are also working on statewide advocacy to make inclusive housing possible across North Carolina.
In addition, we continue to seek land where we could build an inclusive community from the ground up.
Inclusive communities bring people with and without disabilities together as neighbors. A Community Facilitator supports each community by encouraging social interaction, providing resources and referrals as needed, assisting in relationship-building, and fostering a culture of mutual support and care among all residents.
An intentional community is one in which residents deliberately choose to live together as a diverse group of people with and without disabilities. It is built on the belief that everyone belongs and that diversity is welcomed and valued.
An inclusive community is a place where every person has the opportunity to live as a contributing member of the community, while being appreciated for their individual abilities and uniqueness. Inclusivity also means that housing is integrated into the surrounding neighborhood rather than segregated by disability.
While some IDEAL communities may not begin as intentional communities, they can still grow into inclusive places where people live and flourish when the right supports are in place.
We work to keep the numbers similar to the general population, where 1 in 5 people have a disability. In IDEAL communities approximately 20% of units are for adults with I/DD with 80% for families and adults (seniors, students, etc,) without disabilities. In a community with 100 homes, 20 of those would be for people with I/DD.
The level of support needed will vary based on each individual's needs. Residents will have the freedom to choose their own service provider.
Obtaining supports through a provider agency of their choice will be the responsibility of the individual, family member, or caregiver.
The IDEAL community will offer a Community Facilitator who oversees and arranges social gatherings and events for all residents. The Community Facilitator also supports connections between residents, service providers, and property management, and helps link residents to resources in the wider community.
HOPE NC does not provide daily living supports and does not have staff onsite 24/7.
HOPE NC does not currently have a waitlist. However, we are now collecting responses via our Inclusive Housing Interest Form to be able to notify interested persons as opportunities become available. Please complete the form.
Currently all HOPE NC communities are rental. For future communities, some will be all affordable rental while others will have opportunities for home ownership as part of a mixed-income project.
You can stay connected via our website, Facebook page, LinkedIn and Instagram. You can sign up for our mailing list here on our homepage.
HOPE NC is in search of volunteers of all ages and abilities! If you are interested, please contact us via email to help us with a variety of tasks.
With more of us working together, we will be closer to achieving our dream of creating an intentional, inclusive community in the Triangle area.
We can also use your donations to help us continue the work of bringing together all the partners needed to create more options for this type of inclusive housing across the state.
HOPE NC partners with community organizations who already have housing or who are building housing. The housing developer agrees to set aside a certain number of homes (apartments, condos, etc) for adults with I/DD.
HOPE NC then assists with the referral and application process and hires a Community Facilitator to work onsite at the community to provide support to the adults with I/DD who live there.
Anyone who is 18 or older with I/DD can live in a HOPE NC community. We do not provide direct support professionals so whatever assistance is needed for daily living skills must be provided by either the Medicaid Waiver supports or the family. We do not have onsite 24/7 staff.
We find that all residents, with or without disabilities, benefit from the added programming and activities provided by our Community Facilitators. This increased programming boosts social engagement, which leads to stronger natural supports and deeper feelings of belonging.
All activities and programs are free for all residents.
In addition, the Community Facilitator acts as a liaison between the providers in a resident's life, including the housing provider, property management, rental assistance organizations, and service providers.
The Community Facilitator also works with each individual to identify personal goals and connect residents with resources to help them achieve those goals.
Right now, each community has its own application process. The best way to stay informed is to get on our Housing Interest list so you can be notified about upcoming new housing projects or vacancies in any of our current communities.
You can also sign up for the HOPE NC newsletter mailing list to hear about current events and community updates.