Foundation For the Challenged Programs
In May 2004, FFC became involved with a housing service program as a means to provide additional support for people with DD. The success of our housing has provided community based homes for over 300 individuals in 11 states. The basic premise of FFC’s participation in the housing service is to provide people with developmental disabilities access and choice of community-based living options. Since 2003, the Foundation has also provided over $167,000 of charitable support to qualified non-profit organizations to incubate innovative programs that enhance quality of life for hundreds of individuals with disabilities. In October 2006, FFC established the Community Living Fund to expand its charitable support to directly impact individuals with developmental disabilities and their families by providing basic living necessities such as wheelchair ramps, walking devices and basic furnishings. From 2006 to present FFC has provided over $136,536.00 of charitable support to individuals and their families.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
In the state of Washington, FFC is known as a competent, effective provider of affordable housing and a charitable supporter with an ability to leverage donor dollars through the application of innovative programs and collaboration with advocacy groups. Beginning in 2007 to the present, FFC has been awarded 7.4 million dollars of state housing funds from Commerce Trade and Economic Development (CTED) to purchase 12 homes in King County and make them accessible for individuals with developmental disabilities leaving state institutions. This enabled over 40 people to live in community-based homes of their choice and in some instances for the first time in their life.
As FFC continues to provide housing it also focuses on initiating innovative programming that improves quality of life for people with developmental disabilities beyond housing. We desire to provide what we call “Welcome Home” kits to the individuals who live in our homes. These kits include items such as a laundry basket, sheets, a comforter, towels and cooking utensils and supplies and can make the difference between residing in a house and truly making it your home. Often these are items that people with developmental disabilities cannot afford to purchase or to replace when they become worn. FFC would like to provide one kit to each of our residents for a total of 40 kits. Each kits costs approximately $225 for a total project request of $ 9,000.