Casa Familia, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to creating safe, affordable and sustainable housing for adults with intellectual, developmental and other related disabilities, recently announced the completion of The Gardens at Casa Familia, the third phase of its first-of-its-kind residential community in Miami-Dade County.

The milestone builds on a year of significant progress for the organization, including the successful opening of Phase I, The Village at Casa Familia, earlier this year, where residents have already moved in, begun building friendships and routines, and brought the community’s vision to life.

“The success of Phase I and the way residents have embraced The Village has been incredibly meaningful for all of us,” said Marie-Ilene Whitehurst, co-founder of Casa Familia. “With the completion of The Gardens, we are building on that momentum and continuing to grow this community into a place where individuals can live with independence, connection and a true sense of belonging.”

The completion of The Gardens represents another major step forward in fulfilling that promise and addressing the critical shortage of affordable, purpose-built housing for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Developed in partnership with Pinnacle, The Gardens adds 50 affordable apartment units to the Casa Familia community.

“Receiving the TCO for The Gardens at Casa Familia is an exciting milestone for everyone who has worked to bring this vision to life,” said David O. Deutch, co-founder and president at Pinnacle. “This development is designed to give adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities a place where they can live independently, build meaningful relationships and be part of a supportive community. Pinnacle is incredibly proud to be a small part of this innovative and distinct community.”

Casa Familia is being developed in three phases. Phase I, The Village at Casa Familia, is complete and fully occupied. Phase II, The Residences at Casa Familia, remains under construction and will feature four six-bedroom homes designed to provide assisted living in a communal setting. With the completion of Phase III, The Gardens at Casa Familia, the community continues to expand its housing options for adults with IDD and other related disabilities.

Located at 10951 SW 84 St. in Kendall, the Casa Familia campus is designed to go beyond housing to create a vibrant, connected community. The Village at Casa Familia includes two three-story buildings with 50 one- and two-bedroom apartments providing housing for 62 adults, along with an approximately 11,000-square-foot state-of-the-art community center featuring an art studio, internet café, fitness center, game room, demonstration kitchen, movie theater, multipurpose event space, sensory “chill” room, resort-style pool and spa, and additional amenities designed to foster independence and engagement.

The community center also serves as a hub for Casa Familia’s leadership and its partners, while Sunrise Community Inc. coordinates programming and services that support residents’ daily lives.

“What we’ve seen over the past year – the connections being formed, the routines taking shape, and a true sense of community growing – has reinforced just how meaningful and important this work is,” said Karin Jawitz, co-founder of Casa Familia. “The completion of The Gardens marks another exciting milestone as we continue to grow Casa Familia and create lasting opportunities for individuals and families to live, connect, and thrive as part of a supportive, inclusive community.”

As Casa Familia continues to grow, its leadership remains focused not only on expanding housing, but also on ensuring long-term sustainability and impact.

With Phase III now complete, Casa Familia is turning its attention to the final phase of development and its ongoing capital campaign. The organization is working to close approximately $3.2M in remaining funding needed to complete Phase II, The Residences at Casa Familia, with a goal of securing those funds by the end of 2026.

This final push reflects a collective effort by donors, families, and community partners to bring the full vision of Casa Familia to life. Each new residence represents years of planning and advocacy by families seeking long-term housing solutions for their loved ones, underscoring the importance of completing the final phase of the community.

The Casa Familia community has been made possible through the collaboration of public, private and nonprofit partners committed to expanding housing opportunities for adults with disabilities. The design was completed by Studio Mc+G, with property management by Gatehouse Property Management. Bank of America served as the construction lender and provided investment equity through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.

Additional partners include Miami-Dade County, Miami-Dade County’s Housing & Community Development Department, Miami-Dade County’s Community Services Department, Florida Housing Finance Corporation and the State of Florida’s Agency for Persons with Disabilities.

Once complete, the three-phase development will provide a range of residential options designed to support adults with IDD at different stages of independence, creating a first-of-its-kind community where individuals and families can find not just housing, but a place to call home.

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