Kyle and Chris have learned they can build community and find a support system wherever they go. They are housemates at a supervised Living Resources residence, but the Hannaford Plaza on Wolf Road in Albany has become their home-away-from-home.
Lee, the owner of Capitol Cleaners, says his friendship with Kyle started quite literally with a bang. He was in his shop when all of a sudden Kyle ran in and told him, “Somebody hit your van!” Sure enough, an accident had happened and thanks to Kyle’s alert, Lee was able to talk with the person responsible.
Their friendship grew from there and now Lee thinks of Kyle just like one of the family. He invited him over for s’mores and brought him back a T-shirt from a vacation to Maine.
“He’s a good guy,” Lee shares, “We just bonded.”
“He knows who his people are,” says Emmy, manager at Bruegger’s Bagels. Kyle comes into the shop almost every day, so the entire staff has gotten to know him. They are always ready to lend an ear or share some advice. Kyle likes to share fun stories with his Bruegger’s friends and also ask advice when something is bothering him.
“You never know what is going on in someone’s life and day and it’s not our place to judge,” explains Emmy, “It’s our place to serve our customers and make their day better.”
With support from Living Resources and advice from his friends in the community, Kyle is now getting ready to achieve new independence by moving from a supervised residence to a supportive residence. This means he will be living in his own apartment and exploring his new environment with support and encouragement from his Living Resources staff. He’s already started taking the bus on his own!
While the workers on Wolf Road are happy for him and excited for his future, they hope his visits will continue and the relationships they’ve formed will remain just as strong. “He always says to me, ‘You make me happy,’” says Lee, “It makes me feel good to hear him say that.”
The Residential Program at Living Resources is focused on providing a supportive home environment to individuals based on their personal needs and abilities. Staff levels and frequency vary by residence, and individuals are matched, so that they receive the level of assistance that is the best fit for them. To learn more, visit: https://livingresources.orgservices/residential-services/