FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:
Lacey Rumberger, Marketing and Development Manager
904.355.0155
[email protected]

Click here to download the press release.

The Arc Jacksonville Announces New Residential Model Focused on Mental Health

Jacksonville, FL, October 29, 2021: The Arc Jacksonville announces The Lodge, a new community home model for adults with intellectual and developmental differences (IDD) with a focus on mental health services. For more than three decades, The Arc Jacksonville has provided mental health services to individuals with IDD through day training programs and individual counseling. The Lodge will expand Arc’s mental health services, providing in-home crisis prevention and targeting early intervention.

The reality of residential options for many individuals with IDD who struggle with mental health concerns is not as simple as lacking a home but rather a living situation that does not set them up for success. Approximately 32% of people with IDD have co-occurring mental health issues. The Lodge will offer affordable housing for six individuals and include personalized services for each resident by mental health professionals and consultation by a psychiatrist. Independent living skills training, supervision, assistance, and critical mental health services will be offered within the home, enabling residents to acquire coping skills to address their mental health needs. This wrap-around residential service model will be the first in Florida, and can then be replicated in other communities.

The Arc Jacksonville is funding the project through a $2.3 million capital campaign targeted for completion in early 2022. The campaign is led by Steve Suddath, Chairman of the Board of Suddath. Key funders for the home include The Jim Moran Foundation, The Riverside Hospital Foundation, The Thomas M. & Irene B. Kirbo Charitable Foundation, and Steve Suddath. Funding is also secured through the Florida Housing Finance Corporation. Funding opportunities are still available.

“Through one of The Jim Moran Foundation’s special 20th Anniversary grants, we are happy to partner with The Arc Jacksonville to support The Lodge where residents will be empowered to lead fulfilling and more independent lives by prioritizing mental health and wellness,” said Jan Moran, chairman and president of The Jim Moran Foundation.

The Lodge is scheduled to break ground in March of 2022, and residents will move in the following year. Each residential unit will have a small kitchenette, living room, bedroom, bathroom, with shared living spaces. The home will be built on the property adjacent to The Arc Jacksonville Village on Hodges Boulevard.

About The Arc Jacksonville
The Arc Jacksonville serves and advocates for individuals with intellectual and developmental differences to achieve their full potential and to participate in community life. Through incredible partnerships within the Northeast Florida community, The Arc Jacksonville, a local nonprofit, provides a full complement of residential, educational, training, work readiness, employment, mental health, and community inclusion initiatives.

Editor’s Note: The Arc Jacksonville is not an acronym and Arc should never be in all capital letters. When referring to the organization, please use The Arc Jacksonville, not The ARC, The ARC Jacksonville or ARC. The Arc Jacksonville should be considered as a title or phrase. Please refer to the individuals as having “differences” and not “disabilities.”