News Updates
New Home for Adults with Disabilities
September 10, 2009 – Twelve individuals with disabilities will soon have a new place to call home. LivingWorks Ventures and Vinland National Center broke ground on Thursday, September 10 on Crystal Lodge II. Crystal Lodge II is a supportive housing “lodge” designed for adults with cognitive disabilities recovering from substance abuse. The new lodge is the third owned and operated by LivingWorks Ventures, and construction is expected to be completed in early 2010.
Crystal Lodge II is in response to a growing demand for affordable and supportive housing for adults with disabilities. This project was made possible by partnerships with Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, Otto Bremer Foundation, Minnesota Green Communities, Affordable Housing Incentive Fund, Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing Program, and private donors.
In partnership with LivingWorks, Vinland provides supportive housing services to residents of all LivingWorks’ lodges.
“Allowing residents to become active members of the community and have access to counseling, the lodges provide the framework necessary to ensure ongoing success,” Vinland’s Executive Director Mary Roehl said. “Without a stable place to live, an independent and rewarding life would remain out of reach for this population.”
What Is a Lodge?
A lodge is an interdependent and permanent supportive house. Lodge living is ideal for people on a fixed income who can benefit from the extended support network the lodges provide.
Learn more about Vinland's Supportive Housing Program >
Green Advantage
The new lodge will be constructed with green and sustainable elements. Some of the elements include:
- Reuse of an infill site next to public transportation to increase density and build a more pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.
- Native and drought-tolerant landscaping will be installed in addition to four rain gardens to capture surface and roof run-off.
- Water-conserving and low-flow faucets, showerheads, and toilets.
- Energy Star performance guidelines for the exterior wall design.
- Construction waste management system.
- Recycled content in the carpeting and other flooring materials.
- Low-VOC interior paints, primers, adhesives, and sealants.
Read Fact Sheet for New Lodge on MN Green Communities >
More About LivingWorks Ventures
LivingWorks Ventures is dedicated to providing long-term sober housing for adults with cognitive disabilities who are in recovery from substance abuse. The majority of lodge residents are low-income and very low-income adults with disabilities. Some of our residents meet the guidelines of long-term homelessness.
By providing a sober and long-term housing option for this population, LivingWorks Ventures is reducing the residents’ use of community resources such as homeless shelters, emergency rooms, detox centers, and jails/detention centers. In 2008, 25% of lodge residents were working at least part-time and 75% had remained sober for more than one year. All of the residents who had lived in a lodge for more than one year had remained sober for more than one year.