When it comes to planning for the future of a loved one with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD), the stakes are high and the road can feel overwhelming. Like many families, we’ve spent a lot of time asking: Where will our daughter live when we can no longer care for her? Who will be with her? How will we afford it?
These are big questions. And too often, the only answers we hear involve long waitlists, complicated systems, and a lot of crossed fingers. But hope, as they say, is not a strategy. Our family isn’t inclined to wait for someone else to come through—we’re determined to find and align with an organization that meets our daughter’s needs exceptionally well, or build a solution ourselves if necessary.
In our search, we found Partners4Housing.
We first heard about Pam Blanton, the Founder and CEO of Partners4Housing, on the Parenting Impossible podcast (listen here). Her experience in housing and services for people with disabilities spans more than 30 years, and her vision is bold: empower families to create shared living solutions that are sustainable, affordable, and tailored to the unique needs of their loved ones.
In our state, the Medicaid waiver waitlist continues to grow. We hope our daughter might one day receive a waiver—but again, hope isn’t a plan. Thanks to Pam and her team, we’ve come to understand how various funding sources—especially lesser-known ones like Section 8—can be accessed and leveraged to provide long-term housing security.
And we’re drawing on their experience to help design the future our daughter deserves.
If you’re anything like us, you may find Pam and her team incredibly beneficial for your family as well.
One of the core services they offer is the Benefits and Housing Review, which helps families understand what benefits their loved one qualifies for and how to take full advantage of them. From there, they guide families through the many steps required to establish a shared living home—everything from caregiver agreements and household budgets to navigating Section 8 and helping build a support model that’s both realistic and sustainable.
Even after a home is established, Partners4Housing doesn’t walk away. They remain involved during the critical early months, helping ensure that communication between caregivers and families is strong, expectations are clear, and the living situation starts off on a healthy foundation. Over time, day-to-day operations are managed by live-in caregivers, while families shift into a role of ongoing support and oversight.
To date, Partners4Housing has helped create over 50 shared living homes, serving more than 100 people with IDD in Washington and Arizona. They’ve also supported over 600 families through their Benefits and Housing Review—and they’re expanding to serve more states.
For us, working with Partners4Housing has brought clarity, confidence, and peace of mind. It’s fueled our efforts to actively design the future our daughter deserves—not a future limited by the state, but one defined by her needs, her strengths, and our family’s commitment to helping her thrive.
It’s emotional. It’s empowering. And it’s deeply encouraging to know we’re not alone.
We’re so grateful we found them.
Learn more about Partners4Housing: partners4housing.com
Listen to Pam Blanton’s interview on the Parenting Impossible podcast:
🎧 Housing for Adults with Disabilities: Shared Living Solutions
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