“Housing that is safe, affordable, and accessible is a human right.”
— Kylie Mergen, Director of Housing and Community Development
Finding a home that meets your needs and fits your budget is no easy task. Finding a home that checks those boxes and is also wheelchair accessible is even more difficult. John F. “Jack” Jonas Jr. recognized this need decades before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1990.[1] Jack worked with children with disabilities as a speech pathologist and audiologist in the 1950s and 1960s. With few resources and almost no legal protections, it was difficult for people with disabilities to access housing, employment opportunities, or public resources.
In the ‘50s and ‘60s, the accessible living and disability rights movements were working to fight the practice of institutionalizing people with disabilities, but progress was slow. Jack saw the students he worked with become adults with few options: reside in nursing homes or live with their parents, many of whom did not have wheelchair accessible homes. Jack and a colleague formed the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation (CPRF) in 1972 and went on to create sustainable employment and housing opportunities for people with disabilities.
According to Pat Jonas, Jack’s son and the current CEO and President of CPRF, “He was ahead of the times. He wasn’t just worried about doorways being wide enough. He wanted people to be able to work, live their lives, and enjoy a community.” The Timbers, an accessible community built in 1979 in Wichita, was part of that vision. Managed by the CPRF, The Timbers featured accessible apartments that had lower countertops, roll-in showers, and other modifications. Eleven years before the ADA required public housing to be accessible, The Timbers was designed for people with disabilities. In addition to providing financial support for the project, employees from the bank have toured The Timbers and learned more about the work of CPRF.
Like any building, The Timbers needed to be maintained and updated. In addition to the usual repairs, apartments at The Timbers had to respond to the changing needs of the community it served. Since the 1970s, wheelchairs have increased in size. While wheelchairs were originally powered by the arms of the user or by another person, motorized wheelchairs are now widely available. These larger wheelchairs are designed for comfort and efficiency, providing larger seats, more stability, and increased maneuverability. The options for personalizing wheelchairs have also increased.
This is where the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) Topeka Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grants and member bank INTRUST come in. The bank awarded $17.7 million in AHP grants to the communities they serve in 2023. AHP grants fund a variety of projects, including down payment assistance, home repairs and rehabilitation, and building affordable housing for seniors.
Rebuilding The Timbers is a three-phase project that will result in an entirely new facility at the end of phase three, according to Mr. Jonas. Of the lengthy and costly process, Mr. Jonas said, “It’s expensive, but it’s important to do it right the first time.” “Doing it right” involves obtaining input from contractors and architects, but most importantly, from the residents. CPRF conducted focus groups with current residents of The Timbers to learn about their wants and needs for a new home.
As well as meeting ADA guidelines, the new buildings will have additional features requested by the residents. Focus groups with residents revealed some practical needs: updating faucets, installing ovens and dishwashers that slide out or open sideways, and increasing the size of the apartments to accommodate larger wheelchairs. However, residents also emphasized the need for community. Not only should doorways and showers be wider, but larger living rooms and community areas are also needed. Being able to enjoy the company of others without worrying about the size of wheelchairs or the width of paths between apartments is vital.
Rebuilding The Timbers to the level of quality residents deserve requires more than vision. It requires a dedicated coalition of advocates, banks, and community leaders. Member bank INTRUST has been a long-time partner of CPRF. When CPRF needed funding for phase one, INTRUST helped them apply for an AHP grant through FHLBank Topeka. In 2020, they received a $327,000 AHP grant. The grant helped CPRF and INTRUST attract additional support and gain the momentum needed to overcome supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr. Jonas says of the immense support the project has received, “Once we got through the supply chain issues, it was just a domino effect. The AHP grant and support from INTRUST were crucial. Then we got a sales tax exemption from the City of Wichita. This will help us access funds from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation. We’ve also gotten support from the Midwest Housing Equity Group, HUD, Manske and Associates, and Senator Jerry Moran. All of these partnerships just built on each other. Without them, it would not have been possible.”
The Timbers is currently in phase two of the rebuilding process. Mr. Jonas says residents who have moved into the new building are ecstatic. “Being able to turn around without hitting a wall… that should be a given, but it’s not for wheelchair users. Affordable and accessible housing is hard to come by, but we’re an award-winning community, and we want to keep it that way.”
Mr. Jonas expects the project to be completed within the next four years. Once complete, residents will enjoy not only updated facilities, but a stronger community. With updated appliances and enough space to host friends and family, The Timbers will be the envy of any apartment hunter, wheelchair user or not.