Maximum Accessible Housing of Ohio addresses an underserved population, assisting with accessible housing and realted issues. There are very few alternatives for help with housing and access for this community.
As a volunteer with MAHO, working on their Accessible Housing Resource Center, I had the opportunity to work with the staff daily. The staff works tirelessly to provide their residents with an accessible, safe, and clean place to live. MAHO also works to provide this information to the broader community. They advocate for Universal Design and Visitability. Their advocacy in these areas extend their relationship with their residents out into the community, so that wherever their residents go will be somewhere accessible and safe.
I have been a board member of Maximum Accessible Housing of Ohio since it's beginnings almost 30 years ago. It currently provides accessible, affordable housing for almost 150 families, and there is a waiting list. This demonstrates how necessary this type of housing is. This organization also offers seminars to educate consumers, builders, social workers, and others interested in learning how to implement universal design. Building on this past experience, we are excited to be in the midst of a capital campaign to fund the construction of a new, state-of-the-art, apartment building. It will include a model suite for visitors to tour and where seminars can be given.
I was invited to become a MAHO Board Member earlier this year, and it was my pleasure to join an organization that provides for housing accommodations with universal design concepts. The tenants desire self-sufficiency, and the apartment communities are very tight-knit. The greater Cuyahoga County community supports this organization as well, with beautiful art and furniture donations. It is very exciting to work toward the new construction project for New Circle Vistas, to be built in University Circle amongst nationally renown museums, schools and medical facility.
My 56 year old husband suffered a brain stem stroke after an unsuccessful surgery for a benign brain tumor in 2006. After nine months of ICUs, hospitals, subacute rehab, and nursing homes, we made the decision to come home. MAHO came to our house and recommended specific renovations and other items that we needed to live safely at home. As my husband's needs have evolved over the last five years, MAHO has continued to consult with us. We are very grateful for the time and talents of their staff. Before my husband was discharged to home, physical therapists of the nursing home did a home visit to insure that he was coming home to a safe environment. They were amazed at the thought and planning that went into the details. This is due to MAHO!
MAHO not only provides great accessible apartments with highly qualified and respectful staff, but provids much Tecnical Assistance and Education so the reach of accessible housing is beyond the buildings that MAHO operates.
I have had the opportunity to visit all 5 MAHO apartment communities and each time, have noticed how proud the residents are of their homes. The fact that there is a waiting list to move into these apartments shows how great the need is for accessible, affordable housing.
The apartments they build to help those with mobility disabilities gives people a home that they can move around in at a price they can afford. Not many apartments offer bathrooms that can fit a wheelchair or kitchen that can fit a wheelchair. The apartments are amazing and I look foward to the new Circle Vistas site.
MAHO is unique in Cleveland because of their focus on universally accessible housing for people with mobility disabilities. In addition to owning and operating five communities, MAHO is in the midst of a successful capital campaign to build a sixth facility in the heart of University Circle. New Circle Vistas will be a state of the art building with universal accessibility design and energy efficiency measures built in from the ground up. Visit www.mahohio.org for more information on the accessibility planning for New Circle Vistas.