Windsor couple opening a support home for adults with disabilities

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Jessica Gaudette began to think about a life of support for adults with different abilities when she realized that it was a problem that her family was also facing.

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It inspired her and her partner, Chris Elliott, to purchase a home in Windsor with the intention of renting it out to adults with disabilities and providing a supportive yet independent living environment.

“We are now looking to rent to people who are in a similar situation to my brother – those who are looking for the next step in independence but need a little more support than just moving into an apartment on their own,” Gaudette said. .

That idea grew into Kind Minds House, supported by the couple’s nonprofit organization, Kind Minds.

Kind Minds began in January 2020, running programs including adaptive cycling and adaptive skating for people of all ages living with a disability with a focus on improving mental health and mentoring future community leaders.

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Gaudette said the house will address many of the challenges faced by people of varying abilities when looking to live independently: They need help with groceries and household chores, as well as guidance in the morning and evening to smooth out the day and exercise. and group outings.

Gaudette said the Windsor community has been very supportive in helping them furnish the home, and they are still looking for volunteers to help inside the home.

While it’s still early days, Gaudette said that she and Elliott took possession of what will become the Kind Minds House on Wednesday, they hope to house five people in the house, probably starting with women.

“Today we are furnishing the house and we will work the next few weeks to paint and bring it to the level we want it to be when we move the guests,” he said. “We would be ready to move residents as soon as the New Year, so we will work pretty hard over the holidays and prepare for that.”

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Gaudette and Elliott, as well as other volunteers, will provide morning and evening support, help with house cleaning, and run errands like grocery shopping. The ideal candidate is someone who can live and care for himself independently, but wants to live with other people in a supportive environment and needs help with housework.

“We are just looking to support them and give them a sense of community and their own little family at home and involve them, to help facilitate that independence.

“The support that the community has provided has been overwhelming.”

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