Lives We’ve Touched
Getting another chance
Ken had recently moved into his first community home after living for decades
in an institution for people with mental retardation. The dream of an exciting
and independent new life seemed to have—at last—come to pass.
Then, unexpectedly, Ken’s housemate passed away. Left alone to pay all of the living costs from his small disability income, he quickly fell behind. “Ken was really feeling the stress,” says service provider Jennifer Paulsen of REM Iowa Community Services, Inc. “He knew enough to understand that it’s scary to be behind on your rent.”
Then, through an application to the Foundation For the Challenged, Ken received a one-time Community Living Fund grant to catch up on overdue rent and utilities bills. “Thanks to the Community Living Fund grant, Ken is getting the bills caught up. He is doing great and is now adjusting well to a new housemate,” says Paulsen.