Brief history of Haven for Special People and update on the Haven on Main Project

Haven for Special People is a like-minded group of parents, friends, and educators uniting around a common goal of providing a life-long residential community for people with disabilities living side by side with people who are not disabled. Our board member parents of children with special needs know first-hand the challenges and concerns for their children as they grow older and want them to live independent, purpose-filled lives. Since our first meeting in 2022, we remain focused on the ision that the challenges of a disability should not prevent individuals from living in their own home in a community of their choosing. We believe that inclusivity is the key and that all residents benefit from living in a “neighborhood in a building”. We also believe in extending this inclusivity to include the economic spectrum as well and will offer rent profiles that cover a wide range.
Rick Diermeier has been involved in the Onalaska community since making it home in 2004. He served as CEO at L. B. White Company for seven years and on the boards of: Mayo Clinic La Crosse Foundation, Outdoor Recreation Alliance and La Crosse County Sustainability Commission. Since retiring from his corporate career, Rick is proud to serve as the Vice President of the Flyway Trail Board of Directors. the La Crosse County Committee on Transit and Active Transportation and as a member of L. B. White’s Board of Directors.
In 2021, Rick attended the grand opening of Home of Our Own in New Glarus where the daughter of close family friends had recently relocated. Despite being largely non-communicative and requiring 24 hour care, she was thriving, living independently in her new home. After touring her apartment and community spaces and meeting her neighbors, Rick left confident that this building was really a supportive and vibrant village that would drive positive change in many families’ lives. Home of Our Own’s founders, Mary Anne and Susan expressed their desire to help others to build inclusive “neighborhoods in a building” like they had done in New Glarus.
Returning home from that grand opening night, the idea for Haven for Special People sparked for Rick and Julie. They are determined to create a safe haven in the Coulee Region that will empower young people to live their lives to the fullest, no matter their level of abilities.
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