CONWAY — A Horley County nonprofit will soon launch the next phase of its affordable housing project aimed at helping residents with autism and other intellectual disabilities.
The project, Oak Tree Farm, includes six apartments, a transition home, a health and wellness center, on-site laundry facilities, a hurricane shelter, a swimming pool, and an outdoor exercise trail. The site is located along Conway’s Oak Tree Farm Lane.
Construction is set to begin on two apartments this week, and a third is pending permit approval. This is after the completion of Transition Home in 2020.
Oak Tree Farm has a waiting list of over 300 people already, and SOS Health Care LLC, the Murrells Inlet-based organization that leads Oak Tree Farm, is working with other nonprofits to provide future health care, including in Charleston. We plan to conduct similar development in
SOS has already raised over $8 million for this project. This non-profit organization helps people with autism and similar intellectual disabilities in South Carolina. The project is believed to be the first in the state, according to nonprofit officials.
CEO Sarah Pope said people with these disabilities often face difficulties when they want to live independently due to the lack of affordability and accessibility in traditional rental housing. .
“These are a lot of people who can’t automatically go and live on their own,” Pope said. is.”
About 1.3 million adults in South Carolina will reportedly have a disability in 2020, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, of whom 20.5% will earn less than $15,000 in 2020. only 5.1% of people without disabilities.
Meanwhile, according to the CDC, 57.2% of people without disabilities earned $50,000 or more that year, compared to 28.5% of people with disabilities.
Rental units at Oak Tree Farm include duplexes (two connected townhomes) or apartment style homes, accommodating a total of approximately 130 residents. According to SOS Care, the monthly rent is about $500 including water and electricity.
The development includes onsite life skills training and job coaching provided by SOS Care, as well as access to public transportation.
Pope said people with disabilities have higher rates of depression than people without disabilities, even if they live with caregivers. She said it was designed to create a
“There’s a lot of data showing that being with people who you feel connected to, feel safe with, and can work with actually increases your chances of being healthy and improves your mental health,” Pope said. there is.
SOS Care is looking to raise at least $120,000 for apartment furniture. The Conway City Council this week approved a line of credit worth approximately $125,000 to SOS Care to complete the infrastructure needed for the development.
Follow Nicole Ziege on Twitter @NicoleZiege.
