I have been reading the public comments and wish to applaud each person who spoke here.  It is unfortunate that this has become a personal affront to many families who seek the same goals that all of us do. 

I wish to clarify a few pieces of information here.  DD Waiver was created in Virginia to provide home and community based alternatives to institutional living.  In that very statement it demonstrates why Vanguard Landing is not an HCBS provider. 

The property is 128 bed landscape which currently has required visitor signage, locked fencing and plans to include a gym, work environment, and day program directly on its property.  This is far beyond a gated community, this is an institutional setting broken into smaller housing and on the same larger grounds. 

DD Waiver should enable individuals to live in the types of homes they want.  There are sponsored residential homes in gated communities across our state, there are group homes of varying sizes, apartment programs and even housing financial supports to assist individuals to live in locations of their total choice.  

Vanguard Landing violates the very premise of DD Waiver by limiting who can live in the environment, controlling discharges for individuals who may need more support, and charging individuals with disabilities far beyond their economic scope to reside there equally.  Citations included poor care, violations of human rights related to medication administration and discharge planning, lack of individual say in services and lack of documentation of choice.

To date, I do not see where this housing opportunity is opened up to the larger community outside of family members of those residents living there.  

I completely understand the passion of the families who love and have toiled over this service.  Why is no one explaining why the costs exceed what DD Waiver individuals can afford?  How is this integrated and equitable?  How are overage charges and additional costs for services that are authorized and allotted by the DD Waiver fair?

For the families, this community is everything.  For those of us who watch, it feels financially predatory, exclusionary, and limiting.  Why do Medicaid tax dollars need to fund a program when the very people who receive those Waivers cannot afford to live there without additional funds?  How does this increase opportunity for all?  How is this restrictive when even if approved, the very financial premise of Vanguard restricts equal opportunity and participation?  

I want everyone to have choice and by everyone, I mean all individuals with a DD Waiver and their families.  This conversation is not about knowing better, it is about using the words to fully embody what they are supposed to represent. 

In either scenario, Vanguard Landing restricts access to only the financially wealthy.  How does that embody equal and integrated opportunity for all?  Or might these be a labor both of love and profitability while tugging at the heart strings of families who have been seeking a home for their loved ones?  

I really hope Vanguard considers opening up rental opportunities to the community and making this a beautifully shared community with access to shopping, a gym for all, employment.  It has very very big potential.  As it is currently designed, it appears to be a well funded nonprofit with a few large salary recipients based on their tax submissions.  

I support Vanguard existing as they wish, without Medicaid dollars or making very positive changes that have the opportunity to truly be the one of a kind community they are promising so many.  Without equal and open access, I do not feel Vanguard represents the integration I wish to see in this world.