Story
The Bob Brown House accepted its first residents in the summer of 1975 and was formally dedicated a year later. Begun as the Lexington Housing for the Handicapped, it was renamed in honor of Rev. Bob Brown after his untimely death in 1980. Bob W. Brown was pastor of the Trinity Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky. Brown was a pioneer in leading his church to begin programs for many segments of society neglected by churches in the late 1950’s and 60’s. Trinity ministered to the deaf, the blind and mentally handicapped adults and children. From this ministry to the blind Brown befriended several elderly people that lived in inadequate, unsafe housing. It was the day that he visited one of his favorite blind women and she told him that her nephew had stolen all of her money again that he knew he had to do something to help. He shared his vision of a safe, affordable home where people with all kinds of challenges could live together as family. This small group of individuals became the moving force behind a project which was to become the only facility of its kind in the country, fully paid and built solely with private funds. Today, his daughter, Amy Brown, and granddaughters, Hannah and Sadie Thomas, continue that mission of caring for this special population. The Bob Brown House and Independence Homes are independent living facilities for adults with physical and/or mental challenges. We opened in 1973 on Rogers Road in Lexington. For 50 years, we have been providing safe, affordable housing for this often-neglected population. There are 58 residents ranging in ages from 20 to 80. We prepare all meals for residents and have 24/7 staff on site for their care and protection. Rent is based on income from their disability or social security. All utilities and supplies are included in their rent. The average rent is $750 per month. Residents help offset the cost of groceries with their SNAP food stamp card. That benefit covers about half of our food costs. There is a huge need for affordable housing for this population. We receive calls and emails weekly looking for help. Many of our residents are young people wanting to live on their own for the first time. Others are middle aged adults that have lived with their parents until the parents have died or are no longer able to care for them. Some of our residents have physical challenges that require them to live in a fully accessible living environment. Sadly, several of our residents would be homeless due to mental illness and their inability to work. For all of them the support and assistance we provide is the key to their success in living independently. Because of this huge need and our desire to help others we expanded our mission by adding two new facilities in 2021. At our Rogers Rd property we built 24 additional apartments with new living room, dining room, kitchen and laundry. This expansion was funded by several grants and low-income housing tax credits. We also purchased a beautiful, rural property that was formerly a nursing home and completely renovated the building with new flooring, paint, lighting, bath fixtures and furniture. That building has 18 apartments and is fully wheelchair accessible including huge, roll-in shower. Both buildings filled up quickly. Many of the residents on Cleveland Rd came from some state of homelessness. We are continually looking for new opportunities to expand. At this time, we are negotiating the purchase of a hotel in Winchester, KY. This property will provide 60 fully furnished apartments with large kitchen and dining room, large common area for tv and social activities and laundry facilities. This is an exciting chance to expand on a larger scale and to begin to reach the needs of eastern Kentucky. We will need to raise over $1.5 million thru fundraising and grant writing to make this purchase. Needless to say, we operate on a very tight budget. The rents paid by residents only covers about 75% of that budget. Within that amount we maintain our buildings, provide 24/7 staff, purchase food to prepare 3 meals a day to 58 adults and pay all utilities, insurance and taxes. We must raise the remaining balance through fundraising and the support of individuals and organizations in our community. The Bob Brown House receives no government funding to support our daily operations. Every penny donated to the Bob Brown House directly affects the lives of our residents. Your support is not only vital to our mission of serving this special population but imperative in our hopes and dreams of expansion.