Everybody Ought to Have a Home

 

I am not feeling eloquent this morning but there is a topic I care a lot about. Local blogger Jeremy Dommu writes about it thus week at The Merriweather Post.

Patuxent Commons: Innovative Housing Solution seeks PILOT Agreement and APFO Waiver

Dommu outlines the Patuxent Commons project as follows:

Patuxent Commons is an innovative housing solution proposed for Hickory Ridge to help address the housing needs of adults with autism and other disabilities. The intergenerational, mixed-income 76-unit apartment building is envisioned as a supportive community for people of all ages, abilities, and incomes to live alongside one another and commit to being supportive neighbors.  

Take a moment to read his post and get a better sense of what Patuxent Commons will be like. If you are so moved, write a letter to the County Council in support of this project: councilmail@howardcountymd.gov

Most readers of the blog know that I used to teach preschoolers with special needs in the Howard County Schools RECC program. I wrote about what happens when those adorable preschoolers grow up and people don’t perceive them as “cute” anymore. More importantly, 

They are all beautiful.

It does not matter if they are not typically developing preschoolers. It does not matter if their bodies are not fully symmetrical, or their behaviors are difficult or unexpected. They are beautiful human beings who deserve care, respect and a chance to learn, grow, and enjoy life.

They deserve safe, attractive and supportive places to live, too. 

In my special needs music classes we sang a song by Linda Book with these words:

Everybody ought to have a home. 

Everybody ought to have a home.  

A place to get together or to be alone, 

Everybody ought to have a home.

Photo from ptxcommons.org