Journey to Owning a Home

Over the past 6 years, Brian has undergone some exciting life changes, from renting his first apartment to purchasing his own home. How did he accomplish these big life changes? After Brian graduated from Vector with a degree in computers, he independently secured a job at a local computer business. At this point, his parents sought additional resources to help their son fully integrate into his community and become self-sufficient. Upon hearing about Reach for Resources from a friend, Brian’s mom contacted our Director of Community Living to inquire about our in-home services. Our in-home services help adults with developmental disabilities integrate into their communities while achieving the highest level of self-reliance possible.

In 2018, Brian began working with Thuy, one of our Community Living Specialists. Thuy and Brian met weekly to develop and work on various independent living skills like cooking and cleaning. This eventually led to Brian acquiring his first apartment and living on his own. Throughout this transition, Thuy supported him every step of the way. As Brian settled into his apartment, they continued their weekly meetings to practice cooking, trying new recipes, tackling apartment maintenance, and addressing any issues that arose. Even through Covid, Thuy and Brian persisted, meeting virtually until it was safe to meet in-person outdoors. At Brian’s apartment, they would grill in the courtyard, where Brian perfected his grilling skills, particularly hamburgers—now a signature dish his dad loves! Around this time, Brian also joined one of Reach’s non-competitive bowling leagues, that meets every Saturday. Living independently, attending a weekly bowling league, and maintaining the same job for over 20 years, Brian was starting to come into his own.

As rent prices continued to rise, Brian’s brother suggested he purchase a home, with mortgage payments being comparable to rent. Armed with a budget, Brian began house hunting. In a seller’s market, it took him a few months to find the perfect home. In August 2023, Brian officially moved into his newly purchased house. Continuing to live independently, Brian met weekly with Thuy to navigate the responsibilities of homeownership. Thuy supported him through major home improvements, such as replacing gutters and resolving sewer issues, with his brother’s help. Brian loves his new home because he “always has a parking spot, and it’s quiet—no one doing the Cha-Cha a floor above him at all hours of the day.” Plus, he enjoys cooking his favorite meals like shepherd’s pie, tater tot hotdish, and chicken teriyaki with rice. Brian has also expanded his culinary skills to include baking, particularly pies and cakes, earning him a reputation among family, friends, and co-workers for his delicious pressure cooker cake made with just cake mix and soda.

Looking ahead, Brian plans to make additional renovations to his home, including updating his kitchen cabinets with assistance from his brother, who’s an architect. Additionally, Brian is excited to start grilling, to keep rolling strikes at Reach’s weekly bowling league, and to continue working at his current job, where he reached the 25-year milestone this year.