New Horizons Village

Location
Unionville Section of Farmington, CT – Connecticut 5th Congressional District  

Summary
New Horizons, Inc. (AKA New Horizons Village), the Town of Farmington, and the Connecticut Department of Housing have partnered to stabilize, modernize, and implement energy-efficiency upgrades to existing affordable housing residences and endeavored to create and construct 22 additional state-of-the-art, one-bedroom units on the campus of NHV.  The addition of the 22 units made it possible to positively impact the lives of the residents who once shared living space to realize independent living and supportive care services.   NHV provides affordable ADA-compliant housing with added support services to 101 adults with physical disabilities.  The individuals living in the Village have a wide range of physical disabilities including Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, spinal cord injuries as well as other clinically diagnosed disabilities of the central nervous system.    Most tenants rely on motorized wheelchairs for mobility; therefore, having access to quality accessible housing is vital.

The Connecticut Department of Housing continues to place high importance on supporting initiatives that enhance accessible housing across the state’s housing portfolio.  This project is an example of a development that has improved the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and while other technological advancement opportunities exist, has strategically placed NHV to sustain itself for another 20-25 years. The project is at 98% completion with a development budget that is set to expire on 12/1/2023.

Benefits
Nestled on 26 sprawling acres in a quiet Connecticut suburb is New Horizons Village.  The 501(c)(3) organization has made it its mission to serve individuals with physical disabilities.  For the last 37 years, New Horizons’ quest has been to provide affordable wheelchair-accessible housing with added support services including back-up care and transportation.  The Connecticut Department of Housing partnered with New Horizons Village to make much-needed improvements to their existing buildings and to construct 22 additional one-bedroom apartments.  This project has benefited the tenants and the greater community through the following improvements: 

• Energy Efficient Upgrades (Roof, Siding, doors, windows, site-lighting):  By insulating the building’s thermal envelope (exterior walls and ceiling) with insulated sheathing and high-efficiency siding, new roofs, windows, and doors not only enhance the living conditions but made it easier to regulate the temperatures within the apartments of residents whose medical conditions require consistent room temperature.  In addition, improved lighting has made our campus safer for residents and visitors.
• New Technology:  New automatic door openers and call-for-aid systems are just two examples of technology upgrades that were incorporated into this project.  Many of the tenants have limited use of their hands due to their physical disabilities.  Being able to utilize technology has given the residents the opportunity to perform daily tasks that they were not able to previously do, and thus live independently.  Partnering with reputable organizations such as Stanley Access Technology allowed New Horizons Village to obtain life-changing technology.