Inquiries to us from prospects about Group Homes have increased considerably in the last few months, and it seems like a good time to review the parameters to see if this is a viable business opportunity for you.
A Group Home is a type of residential facility licensed by the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD), under the statutory rubric of a Community Residential Home. A license to operate a Group Home facility is non-transferable and is valid only for the applicant identified on the application for licensure, and for the premises and purposes specified on the license. Below are some key areas to evaluate before embarking on the licensure process.
If the idea of a Group Home has piqued your interest, the first step is determining where the facility will be located. This entails a thorough review of the local zoning regulations for the site; a group home cannot be established at just any location. Another issue to resolve is the number of residents to be housed, which will determine various requirements, such as the minimum distance from another Community Residential Home, the minimum square footage per resident in the Group Home, as well as the number of bathrooms, bedrooms and the size of common areas. There are minimum rules for bedding size and quality, bedroom furniture, etc.
Other issues that must be considered before beginning the licensure process are the number and qualifications of personnel needed to staff the Group Home and the services that are required to be provided. At least one staff person must be present at all times while clients are in the facility unless an exemption has been granted by APD. Minimum training for individual direct caregivers is required to be documented and maintained by the facility, and fiscal records pertaining to the cost of providing care to APD clients must be maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Although these requirements can sound daunting, many Group Homes operate successfully and provide needed services to vulnerable children and adults. The key is understanding the guidelines and performing the requisite due diligence well before applying for licensure to avoid wasting time, money and effort. Hiring a qualified individual or company to assist you is, more often than not, a wise decision.