Client Success Stories

Allie moved to HIL in the summer of 2022. Before that, she lived with her parents, who provided her with loving and devoted care. Recognizing that it was time for Allie to take the next step toward independence, her parents supported her transition into adulthood by helping her move out of their home. HIL was the ideal placement, as it allowed Allie to stay close to her family and continue to visit them regularly.

Upon her arrival at HIL, Allie faced several challenges that were addressed through a comprehensive Behavior Support Plan. These included self-harming behaviors, aggression toward staff, and instances of attempting to leave home without supervision.

Since moving to HIL, Allie has made remarkable progress, and her parents are thrilled with the growth they’ve seen. One of the most significant improvements, they say, is her ability to manage new and unfamiliar situations. For example, where medical appointments once caused her distress, Allie is now able to attend them with staff support as a regular part of her routine.

Allie has also embraced a variety of enriching daily activities. She now enjoys baking with staff, helping with laundry, going for walks in the community, and heading out for her favorite treat—pizza outings! One of her most cherished activities is visiting the local park, where she loves to swing under the sun and enjoy the fresh air.

When asked what she enjoys most about living at HIL Jackson, Allie enthusiastically says, “my staff!” She has formed strong, trusting bonds with the team, and the feeling is mutual. Her staff often say that Allie is the highlight of their day, and her smile brings them endless joy.

We are excited to continue supporting Allie as she grows, learns, and thrives in the years to come.

Ray moved into a 4 bed AFH in June 2021, a home later acquired by HIL in February 2024. At the time, Ray mostly kept to himself—spending his days in his room, watching TV from his favorite chair. He spoke rarely, came out mainly for meals or medication, and often declined invitations to go on outings.

In fall 2024, Ray made a big change—he moved to a larger HIL setting that offered more opportunities for engagement. What happened next surprised everyone.

While previously seen as a quiet introvert, Ray quickly revealed a fun, social, and vibrant personality. He made fast friends with fellow residents, enjoys chatting, sharing laughs, and even playing lighthearted tricks. He’s become a welcoming presence in the home, always ready to greet visitors with his signature three questions: “What’s your first name? What’s your last name? Where do you live?” Then comes his classic send-off: “See ya later, alligator!”—waiting for the cheerful reply, “After while, crocodile!”

Ray also enjoys community outings and especially loves seeing his housemates off to day services each morning—and being the first to welcome them back. A fan of the Smithsonian Channel, Ray often surprises others with interesting facts and zip code trivia.

One of his most remarkable achievements since the move has been his improved physical health. No longer spending all day seated, Ray now actively joins the home’s daily walking group and even motivates others with words of encouragement like, “Come on, you can do it!” His increased activity has boosted not only his health but also his happiness and engagement.

Ray’s journey is a powerful reminder of how the right environment can unlock someone’s true potential. He continues to inspire those around him every day.

Jason moved into a supported apartment program with Homes for Independent Living in September of 2020. Jason came to us from his parents’ home with the hopes for gaining further independence and help with daily needs.

After growing up near Green Lake for most of his life, Jason was very used to the country way of living where fishing was his favorite thing to do. Moving to the apartment program, Jason had worries of not fitting in with others and of not being accepted, he also noted the city was much more hectic than what he was used to. Soon enough, Jason was building strong connections with other community members and the staff within his program where he loves communicating and creating relationships with others. Jason stated he has learned to accept others and has received acceptance from them.

After suffering from a heart attack and congestive heart failure at over 400 pounds, Jason decided to make some serious changes to his lifestyle, including taking better care of himself and eating better. The staff at his program have assisted him with this by giving moral support and assistance in creating healthy meals. Jason loves to cook, so learning how to properly manage food and ensure what he was eating was good for him has assisted in meeting his goals. Jason also credits his success to his Christian faith, stating that prayer is a large part of his life. He has lost a significant amount of weight, and his current goal is to reach 225 pounds by the end of this year.

Jason takes a lot of pride in helping others and the relationships he has created while living at HIL. He has made many friends within the community and has flourished with opening up to others and creating real connections. Jason spends much of his free time fishing in the community with his friend, however, when he is not out fishing, he enjoys his trading cards and going to the community thrift stores in search of cards to complete his collection. Jason also has a love for sports including baseball, basketball, and football.

In the future, Jason states he would love to open his own business here in town, either a shop for trading cards or a bait store due to his avid love for fishing. He would also like to work for a fish hatchery to truly connect with his passion.

Jason contributes his success to all of the people that Jesus has placed into his life, and thanks them for their ongoing support and encouragement.