Idea Home

idea home logo
The Milwaukee Idea Home is a collaborative project providing an innovative solution to the need for accessible, affordable, and energy efficient housing in Milwaukee. Partners in this project include We Energies, Metropolitan Milwaukee Sewerage District, UWM's School of Architecture and Urban Planning, and IndependenceFirst. The prototype house will be owned and operated by IndependenceFirst and serve as a transitional living environment for persons with disabilities. The home was intentionally designed to maximize accessibility in a small living space. It incorporates easily adaptable accessibility features for demonstration and testing purposes. It is scheduled for completion in 2004.

The purpose of this program is multifaceted. First and foremost, the Milwaukee Idea Home will provide a transitional living space for persons with disabilities, preventing them for being forced into institutions. The house will also model various accessibility features that could be incorporated into home modifications and/or new construction. Finally, this house will serve as a model for new practices in relation to energy efficiency and environmentally sound concepts.

Goals
The major goal of the house is to provide a transitional living environment where persons with disabilities can live on a short-term basis while working to increase their skills to live independently and/or to provide an alternative living arrangement while modifications are being made to their current home. Other goals include serving as a model for accessibility, energy efficiency and environmentally friendly spaces.

Topic Areas/ Areas of Interest

  • Transitional Living for Persons with Disabilities
  • Accessibility Models
  • Energy Efficiency Models
  • Environmentally Friendly Models

Program Availability
The Milwaukee Idea Home will be open to tours upon request. Occupancy will be open only to IndependenceFirst consumers and determined by IndependenceFirst staff.

Q&A

Who is this program for?
The program is designed for individuals with disabilities who need a transitional living environment (maximum of 8 weeks) to develop additional independent living skills or while modifications to their current or future residence are being completed.

Type of Assistance/Information

  • Independent living skills training
  • Transition from institutional living into the community
  • Information and examples of accessibility features
  • Information and examples of energy efficient features

Eligibility Requirements
Person with a disability who is selected by the IndependenceFirst Milwaukee Idea Home committee.

Types of classes Offered (Individual or Group)
N/A

Cost
Rent for the house will be determined using a sliding fee scale.