LA CROSSE, Wis. (WEAU) – Haven for Special People and Couleecap are starting the public phase of their $4.2 million fundraising campaign.
The campaign will support the $23.5 million Haven on Main housing development.
The development will have 70 units of one to three bedroom apartments, 59 Of which will be for people living on low income due to a disability.
“This is a new an unique housing development that will provide independent living options for adults with disabilities, alongside the general population without disabilities in an inclusive 70-unit apartment building,” says Couleecap executive director Hetti Brown.
Brown hopes that haven on main can serve as an example to other communities.
“There is currently nothing of this kind in this community where there is an independent living option for adults with disabilities. We actually looked not only across the community, but across the state, and there’s only one other model of this kind,” says Brown.
Michael and Brandy Rea donated $1 million towards the fundraising campaign because they have a child with autism. They say housing is a concern for any parent who has a child with a disability.
“I’d say it’s probably the biggest concern for a special needs parent and for us as well with our son is what’s going to happen to our son if something happens to us. Where is he going to live? How is he going to be supported by the community? I know that is a concern of most parents,” says Brandy Rea.
“Being able to see something close to home with a mission that is really important to us, which is helping to serve the special needs community that needs some support is the reason that we’ve embraced this project,” says Michael Rea.
The public phase of the campaign has already raised $3.7 million, meaning it only needs around $500,000 more to reach its goal.
Officials say groundbreaking for the project will be sometime in late August or early September.
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