CFC/UNITED WAY #8164

Community Housing for the Hearing Impaired

Community Housing for the Hearing Impaired is a program of Deaf-REACH.

Community Housing for the Hearing Impaired, through Section 202 funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, has built a physically accessible six-bedroom home which serves as a supported independent living facility for deaf adults with on-going mental disorders.

CHHI (pronounced "key") House serves six members who have attained a sufficient level of functioning--social, psychological, and life skills--to enable them to live independently with minimal supervision.

The Facility:
CHHI House is specially designed and built to accommodate deaf individuals. The house has built-in flashing light systems for the front doorbell, telephone, and smoke detectors. In addition, each bedroom door has its own flashing doorbell.

The Program:
CHHI is adjacent to, but separate from, Otis House, a fully supervised community residence facility which serves as a transitional living center for deaf adults with mental disorders. CHHI House members live independently, yet have access to support services from staff at Otis House.

Members of CHHI House are expected to assume much of the responsibility for the daily running of the house, including but not limited to, the following: food shopping and meal preparation; planning and carrying out various social and recreational activities; completing house cleaning chores; and caring for their own laundry and personal needs. Program services which are available to CHHI House members include case management, individual and group counseling, and individual and group life skill training.

As a person learns to live even more independently, he or she may move into one of several apartment units located in the neighborhood where staff provide occasional drop-in support.

Funding:   The Section 8 Rental Assistance Program assists residents to pay their rents, which are expected to be no more than 30 (thirty) percent of their monthly income. Funds for support of the CHHI House program come from member program service fees, gifts and donations, and the Commission on Mental Health Services.

For additional information, contact: 202-832-6681