Project Beacon Launches Comprehensive Housing Analysis for Individuals with Autism and Related Disabilities in Montgomery County

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX -- Project Beacon in partnership with Tri-County Behavioral Healthcare, is announcing the launch of the Montgomery County Housing Market Analysis, a pioneering study aimed at understanding and addressing the housing needs of adults with autism and other intellectual and developmental disabilities (A/I/DD) in Montgomery County, Texas. This is the first time such a comprehensive housing analysis has been examined regarding the needs and preferences of the local A/I/DD population.

The Make Waves Center for Community Development at the First Place Global Leadership Institute in Phoenix is conducting the study. Project Beacon joins a growing national movement to collect data and advance housing options for the population. The study aims to collect market data, identify barriers, and explore collaborative solutions across public, private, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors.

Project Beacon invites self-advocates and their families in Montgomery County to participate in this study by registering for a survey session from July 25 to August 31, 2024. To register or find more information, visit our website.

The nationwide housing crisis has disproportionately affected individuals with A/I/DD. With autism diagnoses increasing dramatically, from one in 2,500 children thirty years ago to one in 36 today, there is a growing need for diverse and supportive housing options. AARP's data reveals a parallel trend, with the number of caregivers for adults over 50 rising from 34.2 million in 2015 to 41.8 million in 2020, reflecting the increasing health and functional needs of an aging population.

“This study offers a unique opportunity for our Montgomery County neighbors affected by A/I/DD to have their voices heard in a meaningful way. MOCO is a wonderful place to live, work, play, pray and learn and this study will provide valuable insights into the specific preferences and needs of this community so that organizations like Project Beacon can work together with other community leaders to bring distinctive offerings for the A/I/DD community.” Kelly Baughman, Executive Director and Cofounder, Project Beacon

Project Beacon invites individuals with A/I/DD and their family members to share their perspectives via an online survey from July 25th through September 6th. A kickoff meeting will be held on Thursday, July 25th. Register Here.

About Project Beacon

Project Beacon is a 501(c)3 organization formed in 2021 and based in Montgomery County, Texas. It is committed to delivering quality, sustainable solutions for the educational, vocational, social, and residential for the lifelong challenges facing the neurodiverse community. Project Beacon will be a place where neurodiverse adults can be vital and visible members of the community. Project Beacon is working to open The Beacon Access Center in The Woodlands, Texas in January 2025. Learn more about Project Beacon at projectbeacontx.org.

About Tri-County Behavioral Healthcare

Founded in 1983, Tri-County Behavioral Healthcare is one of the 39 Community Centers in Texas that provides services to persons with mental illnesses and intellectual/developmental disabilities to all of the 254 counties in the state. Tri-County is a unit of local government sponsored by the Commissioners Courts of Liberty, Montgomery, and Walker Counties, and is funded primarily through billing for insurance and contracts with the Health and Human Services Commission. Service locations are in Conroe, Cleveland, Huntsville, Liberty and Porter. Learn more at tcbhc.org.

About First Place® AZ
First Place AZ, a charitable 501(c)(3), is advancing innovative residential and community options for adults with autism and other neurodiversities through its vision for fueling a new wave of real estate and community development. First Place–Phoenix, the nonprofit’s flagship property, is an 81,000-square-foot apartment community set in the heart of the urban area and recognized by PBS NewsHour as “the most autism-friendly city in the world.” The First Place Global Leadership Institute leverages this award-winning property to serve as an R&D site, supporting the replication of residential and post-secondary education models and fostering collaboration among the public, private, philanthropic, and nonprofit sectors. Read First Place’s groundbreaking 2020 report, A Place in the World: Fueling Housing and Community Options for Adults with Autism and Other Neurodiversities. Learn more at firstplaceglobal.org.