WESTFIELD — On December 16, the Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey (SHA) released the new Westfield Integrated Community Project (Westfield ICP) report covering recommendations to support community inclusion for residents, including people with disabilities and other barriers.
Over the past 12 months, the Westfield ICP developed an action plan to effect changes for the town. The report was created using the ICP Self-Assessment for Municipalities and ICP Toolkit for Municipalities — both resources developed by SHA, with guidance from people with lived experience. This plan includes nine prioritized recommendations around integration that will improve the lives of all individuals, representing a range of populations with various disabilities and barriers.
Using what was shared by individuals with lived experience who participated in listening sessions and in the Leadership Team meetings, Westfield ICP stakeholders ranked proposed changes by priority. Community stakeholders joined Leadership Team meetings and used ICP resources to address integration and breaking down silos for individuals with disabilities and barriers. ICP Leadership teams learned about integration within the following topics: Communication, Transportation, Housing, Civic Engagement, Volunteer and Paid Employment, and Culture and Recreation. A meeting was held at the Greater Westfield YMCA to present the recommendations. Leaders in town who attended the meeting helped to identify next steps in accomplishing the recommendations. It is the hope of the Westfield ICP that some of the prioritized recommendations can begin to be implemented in 2025.
“We are grateful to Westfield and the organizations and stakeholders who shared their time with the Integrated Community Project for being such committed partners,” said Kate Kelly, associate executive director of SHA. “The commitment of the people working on this project, including community leaders and individuals with lived experience, speaks to the necessity of these recommendations and the vision to help make them a reality. The Town of Westfield should be very proud to be the first municipality in New Jersey to work with the ICP at the local level. SHA hopes other municipalities across New Jersey consider how this project could benefit their communities.”
The Supportive Housing Association is very grateful for The Westfield Foundation’s support of the Westfield ICP. The Westfield Foundation, which funded the Westfield ICP, is proud to fund its grantee, the Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey. Enhancing lives and increasing accessibility is woven throughout its organization’s giving and it looks forward to partnering on future projects.
For more information about SHA’s ICP Toolkit for Municipalities and the Westfield ICP, contact Kate Kelly at kate.kelly@shanj.org or visit www.shanj.org/sha-integrated- community-project/.
The Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey (www.shanj.org) unites its diverse coalition of members to advance, promote and increase supportive housing opportunities across New Jersey. Since 1998, its statewide mission has been to enhance lives and accessibility to enable independent living within communities.
