Client Success Stories

Sabrina is a 34-year-old who has been living with Homes for Independent Living since July 2020. In May 2023, she moved to our Parker program, and she absolutely loves it there! One of her favorite things about Parker is being so close to everything in Green Bay, she loves being within walking distance of almost all her favorite spots.

Some of Sabrina’s favorite hobbies include riding her bike, listening to all kinds of music, spending time with her family, and shopping. On a typical day, you can find Sabrina going for a few walks (or riding her brand-new bike), chatting with her mom and dad, heading to Dollar General to grab a soda, and listening to music with staff. Every now and then, she loves to get dressed up, put on some makeup, and have a mini photoshoot!

Sabrina has grown so much since joining the Homes for Independent Living family, and she is incredibly grateful for the staff who have supported her from the very beginning. Thanks to the teamwork between Sabrina and her staff, she has worked through past elopement challenges, which paved the way for her move to Parker. Sabrina shares that living at Parker has given her a wonderful sense of independence.

Currently, Sabrina is working with DVR to find a job, with her sights set on a cleaning position. Staff are working closely with her to practice her cleaning skills, so she feels confident and prepared when she lands her dream job.

Sabrina and her team are dedicated to supporting her goals and helping her explore new opportunities in the community. We are so excited to see what the future holds for Sabrina, and we are incredibly lucky to have her as part of our home!

Kevin “KP” has always been someone who enjoys being around others. Whether spending time with friends, participating in activities, or simply enjoying the routine of his week, Day Program has always been one of the highlights of his life. It is a place where KP feels connected, engaged, and part of a community he truly enjoys.

Since his medical incident in the early 2000s, KP has relied fully on his wheelchair for mobility. Over the years, his chair supported him through appointments, outings, activities, and the everyday routines that are so important to him. Unfortunately, due to age and wear, KP’s wheelchair began breaking down, making it unsafe for him to attend Day Program while a new chair was being ordered and fitted.

Being away from Day Program was very difficult for KP. He missed his friends, his activities, and the structure and connection that were such an important part of his routine. The sudden change caused understandable frustration, and at first, KP struggled with being home for such an extended period of time.

During this challenging time, KP’s residential providers became an essential source of support. Staff recognized how important routine, engagement, and social connection are to KP’s well-being, and they worked hard to make sure he continued to feel encouraged and included while waiting for his new wheelchair. They spent extra one-on-one time with him, participated in activities he enjoyed, and helped keep his spirits up during moments of frustration. Their patience, positivity, and consistent support helped turn a difficult situation into one that felt manageable and meaningful.

With the encouragement of both his residential staff and family, KP slowly began adjusting to the temporary change. Over time, his frustration turned into patience, resilience, and acceptance. Staff celebrated the small moments with him - the smiles, conversations, and activities that helped brighten his days while continuing to remind him that his return to Day Program was coming soon.

After weeks of waiting, KP finally received the exciting news that his new wheelchair was complete and that he would soon return to Day Program. His excitement was immediate and heartfelt. After showing so much strength and patience, he could finally return to the people, activities, and routine he loved so much.

KP’s story is a wonderful example of resilience, and the powerful impact compassionate residential providers can have during difficult times. Through encouragement, dedication, and genuine care, his staff helped support him emotionally and socially while reminding him that he was never alone. Now, with his new wheelchair and return to Day Program, KP is once again enjoying the independence, friendships, and community that mean so much to him.

Joe joined the HIL family 13 years ago when he moved to a program in the FOX Valley region from a much more restrictive setting. Joe has made significant strides since his move to HIL, including decreasing staffing needs from 4:1 staffing down to 2:1 staffing as well as now being able to regularly go out into the community. Historically, Joe did not engage with his staff often and struggled to make connections with his staff. Fast forward to now, Joe enjoys making connections with each of his staff often joking with them about firing them and then rehiring them a short time later. Joe enjoys being able to live in his own space while having staff to support him.

One of Joe’s favorite activities to do is going out grocery shopping for the program and going out for lunch with his staff. He continues to try new things with his staff and loves car rides to sight see and find new buildings that are interesting to see. Joe likes the time out in the community with his staff. Joe also enjoys having involvement in his household routines, such as taking out the garbage each week. He has learned how to complete many household tasks and takes pride in knowing he helps to keep his home looking nice.

Joe beams with joy when he talks to others about his home. He is proud of his home and all of his accomplishments since moving to HIL. Joe states “If it weren’t for HIL, I would still be at Northern Center and wouldn’t be able to do all the things I do now.”

As Joe continues to learn more life skills, he continues to develop relationships with his staff and some have been lucky enough to be invited in to his game room – his room to play video games! Joe hasn’t always been open to others entering his game room, but over the years he has been able to open up and invite others into his sacred place.

Joe’s progress since moving to HIL has been enjoyable to watch. We can’t wait to see Joe continue to grow in his skills and independence.