NT_112918

8 | November 29, 2018 | The Northbrook tower news
northbrooktower.com
Northbrook resident creates Home Sweet Home Foundation
Assists adults with
developmental,
intellectual
disabilities
Chris Pullam
Freelance Reporter
A childhood friendship
set the stage for much of
Erin Ross’ life.
In kindergarten, the
Northbrook resident met
Justin, a classmate with an
intellectual disability.
Now, nearly two decades
later, Ross is an
assistive technology facilitator
at Cicero Public
School District 99, where
she teaches technology to
students with disabilities,
and the founder of Home
Sweet Home Foundation,
a nonprofit that supports
adults with intellectual and
developmental disabilities
who live in group homes
throughout Chicagoland.
According to the foundation’s
website, its goal is
to “[transform] supportive
housing for adults with intellectual
and developmental
disabilities into safe,
happy, nurturing homes
through in-kind donations
— empowering them to
live with the confidence
and dignity they deserve.”
Ross, a graduate of the
Glenbrook North Class of
2010, accomplishes that
goal by providing individuals
in group homes
with new and gently used
household items and other
basic necessities on a seasonal
basis.
Through Dec. 2, for example,
she’s raising money
so that adults living at
El Valor Residential Community
Housing, which
has six homes scattered
throughout Chicagoland,
can buy winter clothing
items from Burlington
Coat Factory, which will
Notice ofProposed Tax Increase for
Northfield Township High School District No. 225
I. Apublic hearing to approve aproposed property tax levy increase
for Northfield Township High School District No. 225 for 2017 will
be held on December 10, 2018 at 7:00 PM at 3801 W. Lake Avenue.,
Public Meeting Room, Glenview, Illinois, 60026.
Any person desiring to appear at the public hearing and present testimony
to the taxing district may contact Dr. Rosanne Williamson, Assistant
Superintendent for Educational Services, at 3801 W. Lake
Avenue, Glenview, Illinoiss phone: (847) 486-4701, email:
rwilliamson@glenbrook225.org
II. The corporate and special purpose property taxes extended or
abated for 2017 were $105,311,984.
open early for the shopping
spree. She plans to divide
the donations onto individual
gift cards so that
each person can choose
their own items.
“Since I became friends
with Justin, I’ve noticed
this barrier of seclusion
between people with and
without disabilities,” Ross
said. “Now, not only do I
want to help people with
disabilities, but I want them
to feel pride and dignity in
where they live so they feel
like contributing members
of their community.
“When we put on these
events and give them these
donations, I feel a sense of
accomplishment that we
are bridging the gap and
slowly bringing down that
barrier.”
During a previous fundraiser,
the foundation was
able to purchase dozens of
pillows from TJ Maxx for
the same individuals. The
department store chain
even donated 25 extra pillows
to the cause.
And last winter, the El
Valor residents created a
holiday wish list and donors
were able to choose
which items to buy.
Going forward, she
hopes to host an event —
possibly a Battle of the
Bands — around Valentine’s
Day.
So far, Ross has organized
six events since
founding the organization
in 2016. She estimates that
the foundation has helped
approximately 250 individuals,
and she hopes to keep
expanding to include residents
of other group homes
over the coming years.
“Since kindergarten,
I’ve always had a passion
for helping people with
disabilities,” Ross said.
“Growing up in Northbrook,
I was involved in
Special Olympics and several
other organizations
and mentorships. … Justin
and I are still friends today.
His family is like a second
family to me.”
According to Ross, organizations
like Home
Sweet Home Foundation
are necessary because the
State of Illinois only funds
70 percent of the costs for
adults with intellectual and
developmental disabilities.
The individuals’ parents
are left with the reminder:
approximately $10,000.
To make matters worse,
there are 641,000 adults
over the age of 60 with
cognitive and other disabilities
in the country, so
their parents aren’t always
in a position to help. And
according to Strength for
Caring: Older Adults with
Developmental Disabilities
and Their Aging Family
Caregivers, that number
is projected to double to
1,242,794 by 2030.
As a result, many organizations
are shutting
down homes that house
less than five people and
consolidating to form
homes with 7-15 people.
“It’s a quality-of-life issue,”
Ross said. “People
like to have their own
space and not feel so
crammed in their own
homes. They should feel
proud of where they live,
just like their neighbors.
We are trying to move
away from the institutions
so they can live in comfort
and style.”
To support Home Sweet
Home Foundation’s efforts,
visit sweet-home.
org.
The proposed corporate and special purpose property taxes to be levied
for 2018 are $109,945,711. This represents a4.4% increase over
the previous year.
III. The property taxes extended for debt service and public building
commission leases for 2017 were $8,938,167.
The estimated property taxes to be levied for debt service and public
building commission leases for 2018 are $9,034,748. This represents
a1.1% increase over the previous year.
IV. The total property taxes extended for 2017 were $114,250,151.
The estimated total property taxes to be levied for 2018 are
$118,980,459. This represents a4.0% increase over the previous
year.
Northbrook native Erin Ross founded Home Sweet Home Foundation, a nonprofit
that supports adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Photo Submitted