Housing Insecurity for Autistic Adults in Connecticut: Why We Need a THRIVE Model Now
Connecticut’s adults on the autism spectrum face a critical gap: access to safe, affordable, independent housing specifically tailored to their needs. While the state’s ASD Waiver funds incredible services, it provides no dedicated housing options, forcing many to remain with family or rely on institutional settings not conducive to adult autonomy parentswithaplan.org+3tworivertimes.com+3Red Bank Green+3CT.gov.
Meanwhile, in Red Bank, New Jersey, construction has begun on THRIVE Red Bank, the nation’s first neuroinclusive apartment building built for autistic adults. This innovative 32-unit complex will offer one-bedroom apartments alongside communal amenities like sensory rooms, teaching kitchens, wellness spaces, and 24/7 support from Rutgers clinical staff, creating a model of supported independence that other states must emulate autismhousingnetwork.org+3Cooperator News+3raritanneighbors.town.news+3.
Why THRIVE Matters, and Why Connecticut Needs Its Own Version
True Independence: The THRIVE model empowers residents to live independently while receiving optional support. Contrast that with Connecticut’s reliance on group homes or caregiver-based housing that limit autonomy.
Clinical & Community Integration: THRIVE partners with Rutgers’ Center for Adult Autism Services, blending housing with structured clinical training and community engagement, a public–private framework missing in Connecticut parentswithaplan.org+3Cooperator News+3raritanneighbors.town.news+3.
Affordable & Sustainable: Residents pay reduced rent, with predictive supports, reflecting HUD’s Section 811 supportive housing approach shown to reduce dependency on expensive, crisis-based public systems ctmirror.org+8hud.gov+8tworivertimes.com+8.
Current Landscape in Connecticut
Although Connecticut has made early progress, such as Lavender Fields Apartments in Bloomfield, developed through the state’s IDASH supportive housing initiative for neurodiverse residents, options remain extremely limited. Only about six mixed-use developments are online or under construction, and they often lack dedicated ASD-specific supports or design features ctmirror.org.
Affordability is another looming problem: even general supportive housing in CT is in high demand, exemplified by West Hartford’s Fellowship Housing, which is backed by significant state investment yet still has long waitlists, underscoring the need for specialized options for younger neurodivergent residents ctinsider.com.
What Connecticut Should Do Next
Launch ASD-dedicated neuroinclusive developments, modeled on THRIVE Red Bank. These would combine affordable apartments with tailored life skills amenities and professional oversight.
Expand IDASH & Section 811 programs to prioritize neurodiverse adults, ensuring projects are not just ADA-accessible, but autism-ready (sensory spaces, staff training, independence-focused design).
Build university partnerships with Connecticut’s academic centers (e.g., UConn, Yale) to provide residents with access to clinical services, research-driven programming, and student training about autism support.
Ensure equitable funding models so individuals on the ASD Waiver can access housing that supports, not limits, their independence and long-term success.
Why It Matters
Autistic adults deserve more than merely housing; they deserve homes that respect their dignity, support their growth, and affirm their identity. Connecticut has made strides in supportive housing for seniors and people with disabilities. But we must now invest in housing solutions that meet the unique challenges and aspirations of autistic adults struggling with high rent burdens, social isolation, and housing insecurity.
By mirroring the neuroinclusive approach of THRIVE Red Bank and expanding state-funded pathways like IDASH, Connecticut can become a regional leader in neurodiverse housing solutions.
💡 Resources & Support Links
New Jersey neuroinclusive development: THRIVE Red Bank Project tworivertimes.com+5Cooperator News+5raritanneighbors.town.news+5CT.govraritanneighbors.town.news+1ROI NJ+1ROI NJ
Connecticut IDASH and supportive housing efforts ctmirror.orgCT.gov
HUD Section 811 Supportive Housing information hud.goven.wikipedia.org
SLG continues to advocate for policy and program innovation in Connecticut that restores hope, builds independence, and honors the potential of autistic adults, not as recipients of care, but as valued community members in their own right.