Tampa Bay Housing Issues Expanded for Young People with Disabilities

In Hillsboro County alone, more than 172,000 people live with disabilities, and many are likely dependent on aging caregivers. What happens when those caregivers aren’t there anymore? Housing is one of the most important challenges for Floridians today, and for people with developmental disabilities, the situation is even more disastrous. Increased cost of living, longevity expectations, and limited housing options create an urgent crisis that cannot be ignored.

Tampa Bay must take decisive action. You should invest in proven solutions such as Project Focus. This is a community model that integrates treatment support and lifelong services for young people with developmental disabilities. By expanding existing programs, promoting business partnerships, and educating communities about the values ​​and possibilities of this population, we can build a future where everyone has a purpose. The dedicated teachers, staff and caregivers who have made these young people successful must remain an integral part of the transition to adulthood.

Other Florida communities are already taking action. Innovative projects supporting housing and workforce training programs are in shape around the states of Miami-Dade and Orlando. Tampa Bay must follow the lawsuit and prioritize sustainable and supportive housing options.

Consider young adults aged 22 years old preparing to graduate from our transition program. Over the past eight years, they have developed important work and life skills in a structured support system, and have developed meaningful relationships with their peers and communities. However, as they enter adulthood, these important services begin to disappear. Limited housing options leave them vulnerable to quarantine, regression, and movement to facilities far from the lives they once knew. This is not just an inconvenience. Ensuring independence and quality of life for all is a failure of our collective responsibility.

This cannot be continued. Uprooting individuals from the community leads to emotional distress, regression of skills and loss of stability. Instead, you should create community-based solutions that provide continuity, independence and community engagement.

This is not just a social issue, it is an economic opportunity. The business community plays an important role in recognizing and assessing the skills of individuals with developmental disabilities. Workforce training programs are more than just charities. They are investments in stronger, more connected economies. These programs promote potential objectives and create lasting contributions to society.

It takes united efforts to turn this vision into reality. Community members, families, business leaders and policymakers must come together to invest in housing solutions, advocate for funding, and create sustainable programs. The housing crisis for young people with developmental disabilities in Tampa Bay requires immediate action. By investing in local organizations, supporting innovative housing projects, and embracing the contributions of all community members, we can build a future where no one is left behind.

Clayton Clemens is the executive director of Project Focus, a nonprofit organization founded to support and provide programs and services that support young adults with disabilities. Sarah McGregor is the parent of two young adults with developmental disabilities and is the founder of the Caroline and Barrett Foundation.