Friedman Place

Our mission is to provide housing and supportive services to people who are blind or visually impaired so that their lives can be healthy, dignified, and stimulating. In 2019 we expanded programming and offer community based programs for adult who are blind and living in Illinois. The Friedman Place Navigator Program provides a broad range of case management and social services to people who are blind in order for them to achieve the greatest level of self-determination, independence, and interaction within the community. The Rent Assistance Program, financially supports Illinois residents eighteen years and older who are blind and have low incomes so that
they may remain and succeed in the community in their own rented apartments, houses, or rooms.

The Supportive Living Program accept residents regardless of their economic, racial, ethnic, or religious background. Friedman Place emphasizes a rehabilitation model based on resident independence, self-determination, and interaction with the community. We ensure basic needs are met with nutritious food, a secure environment and a supportive community. We provide activities that are responsive to residents' expressed interests and designed to engage visually impaired individuals, foster their independence, and prevent isolation. Some on-site services include housekeeping, medical case management, low-vision clinics, psychological services and mobility training. All of our services, from occupational therapy to computer classes, foster integrated health – physical, mental and social.

The Navigator staff inform, educate, support and empower clients who are blind or visually impaired along with their families and friends in many areas, including (but not limited to) obtaining and maintaining:
Public Programs like PACE Paratransit, Chicago’s Taxi Access Program (TAP), Medicaid, Social Security, and getting a State Identification Card. The Navigator also provides connections to social, vocational, educational, and housing services, especially those geared for people who are blind through referral and linkage to local agencies and government departments. The educates participants on how to obtain healthcare like a local clinic or hospital services and understanding how to advocate for legally-required accomodations.

The Rent Assistance program provides permanent, ongoing rent subsidies of 50% of the individual’s rent up to
$300 each month. Main Eligibility Requirements:
Legal blindness
Annual Income at 200% or less of the Federal Poverty Level
$25,760 for a one person household (2022)
$34,840 for a two person household (2022)
$43,920 for a three person household (2022)
Living and renting in Illinois for at least three months
Not receiving other housing subsidies such as a Housing Voucher or living in a low-income housing program, long-term care program, or any other residential program.

Friedman Place takes an individualized, holistic approach towards care. Once individuals are admitted, our staff begins working with them to: maximize the benefits for which they are eligible by obtaining sufficient health care coverage; secure a primary care provider; schedule intake consultations with an in-house nurse, social worker, dietitian, and mobility specialist; help them develop goals for themselves so we can create an individualized service plan; and coordinate in-house care and outside services on an ongoing basis for the residents' optimal physical, mental, and social health.

The Navigator first asks a participant what it is they need or want to accomplish and determines if their needs will be met in a call or two, or if a participant would benefit from case management. All services are provided following the Friedman Place Credo: "Staff are eager to do almost anything for residents that they cannot do themselves. Staff are eager to teach residents to do almost anything that they cannot do themselves today, but may learn tomorrow. Staff are not eager to do things for residents that they can do themselves.

Rent assistance clients remain living independently in the community and often benefit from other services that Friedman Place offers.

There is a comprehensive fundraising plan that remains in place year after year including an annual fundraising appeals to individuals, corporations, and grant making organizations for programmatic and general operating support.
In 2020, over 80,000 hours of service was provided by 60 staff. Friedman Place provided over 30,000 days and nights of affordable supportive housing. This includes round-the-clock integrated and individualized assistance and care provided by nurses and certified nurse’s assistants, and food service staff provide approximately 80,000 individual balanced, nutritious meals in the last year, prepared in Friedman Place’s professional commercial kitchen. Monitoring chronic health conditions and having access to healthy food is integral to resident well-being.

Nursing staff provided over 5,700 hours of nursing care in the last year by both Registered and Licensed Practical Nurses to one-hundred percent of residents and direct medication administration daily to approximately one-third of them. Key activities of the Nursing Department are initial and ongoing health assessments, service planning, coordination of care with other providers, medication administration and management, wound care, and health education. Residents are mostly unable to do things that sighted patients do, such as reading discharge summaries, written instructions, dosages, or indications and contraindications, determining prescribed amounts of liquid medications, or looking up information on the Internet.

Certified Nursing Aides (CNA) staff provided 18,600 hours of services in the last year. These services include assistance with and training on bathing, grooming, dressing, health and wellness activities, medication reminders, supervision, and coordination of healthcare services. The CNAs are the “front line” staff and have the most contact with most residents. In addition to their direct professional hands-on services, the CNAs provide social and emotional support and socialization.

Given the very high incidence of diabetes among residents – which can result in significant and even life-threatening problems in the extremities – regular podiatric care is extremely important. Friedman Place provided over 55 hours of direct podiatric care in the last year, mostly to residents with diabetes. Services provided include nail trimming, minor surgery, addressing foot infections, and therapeutic shoes prescriptions.

Last year, residents received over 25 hours of ophthalmologic services, 50 hours of dental services, 40 hours of direct psychiatric care and services which included exams, assessments, treatments, prescription of medications, and medication monitoring.

Friedman Place provided 4,500 hours of services in the last year by services are provided by licensed clinical social workers and between two and three Social Work Interns. Services include a wide range of mental health assessments; individual therapy and counseling sessions; case management; and cr

These programs allow adults who are blind to become more independent, self-determined, engaged in the broader world and lead healthier, more enriched lives. There are very few organizations in the country that provide housing and services for adults who are blind.
While some residents are physically frail, the vast majority are eager and physically able to engage with the world if only given the chance. Barriers to independence are poorly managed chronic health conditions, low income, and even family members who through kindness and lack of awareness care so well for a their loved one that they did not learn daily living skills.
In Q421 to Friedman Place returned to 100% with all apartments spoken for. According to the National Investment Center for the Senior Housing & Care Industry, the Q421 occupancy rate for independent living properties and assisted living properties averaged 83.6% and 78.3% respectively. Friedman Place’s higher occupancy rate is a sign of the tremendous need that exists for affordable housing with specialized supportive services included.

Approximately six people apply for housing each month and several more request information without actually applying. People are put on the waiting list only when their applications are carefully processed and they are deemed eligible. Between 10-15 residents move in and out of Friedman Place per year. While some residents learn sufficient independent living skills and their physical health allows them to move into a more independent setting in the community, most residents who leave Friedman Place go to nursing homes because their need for care has increased.