Michigan unveils first barrier-free, green group home

From The Detroit News. In the picture, Caregiver Vanessa Bonner, left, prepares dinner with Julie Voesky at a JARC group home.

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. -- Margaret Berlin, 64, may have a learning disability, but that hasn't hindered her love for life.

In fact, she's been thriving since moving out of her parents' home 26 years ago into a group home, sister-in-law Linda Berlin said.

She "has a really good life and a close-knit group of friends that enjoy activities together," Berlin said.

In late September, Berlin and her five women friends moved into a new group home, the "The Nusbaum Home.

"The new house the JARC organization just moved them into is really awesome," Linda Berlin said. "It's built to be convenient for the people who live there, and it's wheelchair-friendly. Margaret seems to be settling in beautifully."

The nonprofit, formerly known as the Jewish Association for Residential Care, plans to dedicate and unveil its 20th group facility Oct. 20 in Farmington Hills. It's one of the first barrier-free green homes in the country.

Work on the Nusbaum Home kicked off in July 2008 and wrapped up in June. "We decided to build this one not only to meet the current and future needs of the people who live there but to make it environmentally responsible," CEO Rick Lowenstein said.

Crews tore down a two-story structure at the site, salvaging most of it for resale. In its place stands a 3,191-square-foot home using recycled materials and eco-friendly paint, geothermal heat and water, bamboo floors, energy savings-rated doors and appliances, and water conserving landscaping. The open floor plan also includes roll-in showers as well as wide hallways and doorways.

JARC was founded in 1969 by a group of parents concerned about the future of their children with disabilities. They opened their first group home in 1972 with six residents in Detroit, Lowenstein said. About 95 people ages 20-85 live in JARC group homes across Oakland County.

Roughly 70 percent of the $500,000 project was funded by the philanthropic Nusbaum family that's been involved with the association since its inception.

"These are people who not too long ago would have been institutionalized and have no life at all," said Robert Nusbaum, president of Berloni America, a home furnishing manufacturer. "Now they are in a group home where many have jobs, take part in recreational activities and live full, productive lives. We're very happy to be a part of this project."