by Orlando Salas, Communications Strategist

Parents of children with special needs often wonder what the future will hold. As their children grow older, questions about independence and long-term support become more urgent.

For many families, the search for affordable, supportive housing can feel overwhelming. But for Matt and Patti Devlin, that search led them to a community where their son Sean — who has Fragile X syndrome, a genetic condition that can cause physical and developmental challenges — is now thriving.

Sean currently resides at Freedom Village at Historic Roebling, one of several affordable housing developments operated by Project Freedom, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing and managing barrier-free affordable housing. Project Freedom also provides supportive services that enable individuals with disabilities to live independently.

Project Freedom has been able to provide housing across New Jersey largely because of the Mount Laurel Doctrine, the state’s constitutional requirement that every municipality provide its fair share of affordable housing. This policy framework gives towns a wide range of tools to create affordable housing in ways that best suit their communities, including options such as 100% affordable housing, mixed-income developments, and supportive housing for seniors or people with disabilities. As a result, there is significantly more supportive housing available in the Devlins’ community and throughout New Jersey.

Like many parents, Matt and Patti were not sure if they were ready for their son to leave the nest. “But if we don’t try, we’ll never know,” says Patti.

At first they were unsure how independently Sean would be able to live. But through his process of moving to Freedom Village, they were pleasantly surprised at how much Sean achieved. Sean is able to take care of himself with daily activities like cooking, cleaning, and getting ready for work all on his own.

“Sean has gained a lot of independence while being at Project Freedom,” says Matt.

What also helped Matt and Patti feel at ease was the sense of safety and community the residents and staff at Project Freedom provide. When Patti visits she often bumps into neighbors who keep an eye out for Sean and let her know he’s doing well. If Sean is having an issue in his apartment, such as a leak, he knows he can reach out to Project Freedom staff and they will be able to assist him.

Supportive housing developments like those operated by Project Freedom demonstrate how municipalities can meet their affordable housing needs under the Mount Laurel Doctrine while delivering meaningful, long-term outcomes. By combining accessible design with on-site supports, these developments create stable housing solutions that promote independence and reduce the need for more costly interventions.

Sean’s experience shows that when supportive housing is thoughtfully implemented, it benefits not only residents and their families, but the broader community as well.