In June we officially opened two new housing developments for people with disabilities, a respite home in Spring Grove Village and an apartment building in Madisonville. 

On June 7, Hamilton County DD Services hosted a ribbon cutting for Alice’s House, named for former Superintendent Alice Pavey. Pavey saw the need for a planned and emergency respite home in Hamilton County, and her passion and commitment to this project helped bring it to fruition. “I am so humbly honored to have this house named after me,” she said. “We found the perfect spot and I’m really looking forward to everyone enjoying this house.”

Alice’s House will offer planned and emergency respite, and the development includes two single-story buildings, each with four accessible one-bedroom units, and a shared courtyard between the buildings.

Hamilton County Commission President Stephanie Summerow Dumas, who has a son with a disability, thanked Pavey for her service, dedication and attentive listening to the needs of families. “You were such a great vehicle to move people forward who have disabilities,” she said. “As we know, for housing in general, there is a void. To see this happen is another light at the end of the tunnel as we move forward out of the pandemic and into respecting those who have disabilities.”

On June 21, we opened Bramble House in Madisonville, a 16-unit apartment building for people with disabilities for whom it is difficult to find a place to live in the traditional housing market. The Housing Network of Hamilton County, our partner on both developments, completed extensive renovations to provide updated and accessible living spaces for the tenants.

Rep. Brigid Kelly, who represents the 31st District in the Ohio House of Representatives, presented a commendation from the State of Ohio during the ribbon cutting. “We know that a place to live safely is literally the foundation of how you build a better life,” she said. “It is so exciting to have a clean, safe place to live that offers people the support they need to live comfortably and be successful.”

These projects reflect the commitment we made in our Strategic Plan. As part of our dedication to innovative solutions, we pledged to support creative and inclusive housing options. Both developments will be licensed settings owned by the Housing Network with HCDDS serving as the license holder. 

“Housing isn’t just about a house—it’s about a home,” said Gina Gehm, president of the Housing Network. “We cannot create a place to call home without many partners, and we’re very grateful to be part of all of this.”

HCDDS Superintendent Leia Snyder emphasized the importance of inclusive housing to strengthen families and provide critical services. “It’s really important that we’re able to offer people the support they need, in their communities and close to their homes,” she said.