UCP/CLASS is Breaking New Ground!

On August 7, 2009, UCP/CLASS broke ground on the construction of their two new side by side townhomes. K&S Real Estate, Inc. in partnership with Wayne Homes, is developing the site for four individuals who UCP/CLASS currently serves. These new homes are being constructed with smart home technology which creates accessible housing for the residents by providing advanced safety measures that will support different actions that occur in the house and provide a safe and supportive atmosphere. The houses will be built on Waterfront Ridge in Whitaker.

In attendance were Chuck Keenan, Housing Coordinator for the Dept of Human Services, Reed Wolf, Achieva, a representative from Wayne Homes, Kim and Steve Chupinka and their colleagues from K & S Real Estate, and UCP/CLASS staff Al Condeluci, Melva Gooden Ledbetter, Darla Lynn, Jack Snook, Courtney Walker, Susan McMullen, Lee Snook, Diana Cochran, Jeff Parker, Ron Ruppen, and Shelley Craven, as well as board members Shirlee Porro and Janet Evans. The most eager members at the ground breaking were the future residents and their staff. After the ceremony, a reception was held in one of the model homes for people to tour and see what the town homes will look like.

With each new house that UCP/CLASS builds, people are able to make choices concerning where they live and the activities they choose to take participate in. When a person is able to make these decisions and actively participate in different activities of their choice, they feel a sense of belonging in their own community. Al Condeluci, PhD., CEO of UCP/CLASS, has long studied the concept of social capital. Dr. Condeluci states, “Social Capital is quite simply, the more relationships in your life, the happier you are, the healthier you are, and the longer you live. The greatest challenge is for us to shift the core premise of our work, both locally and nationally, from charity to basic community opportunity.”

These townhomes are not the first houses with smart home technology that UCP/CLASS has built. UCP/CLASS built its first house with smart home technology in 2007. For more information on the first smart home, please click here.