A special kind of residential community is breaking ground on the west side

There’s a groundbreaking on the west side Monday for a special kind of residential community.

KETCH, the Kansas Elks Training Center for the Handicapped, is opening another residential living center for the adults it serves.

“We’re calling it Julia’s Place,” said Fe Vorderlandwehr, chief development officer.

The name refers to its address at 401 S. Julia St., which is near Julia and University and just up from Julia and Taft.

“This will be our 25th residential community,” Vorderlandwehr said.

KETCH has been in Wichita since 1962 to provide services and programs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Vorderlandwehr said there were eight male adults with “families wanting and knowing there could be more for them.”

In the 1980s, the nonprofit began offering residential housing in addition to its other services.

The idea behind the residential communities, which are placed in neighborhoods so they don’t feel institutionalized, is that they’ll work with the other services KETCH provides people.

“This way, they can live, work and participate in the community,” Vorderlandwehr said.

The communities, the last of which was built in 2019, are purposely chosen to be near public transportation and a lot of retail and restaurants.

At the new apartments, which will be ready in about a year, there will be four buildings to serve 32 people.

Each unit will have a private bath, a living area and a full kitchen.

Residents will share common areas and a laundry facility.

Vorderlandwehr said there is a service provider to assist residents.

“There’s always someone at the site to help.”

KETCH serves more than 300 people with services and living skills. That includes just over 140 people in residences.

“We’re really meeting them where their needs are,” Vorderlandwehr said.

She said KETCH seeks to learn what people need and want instead of deciding on its own what services to provide.

“And so we’re constantly looking for what that is and where we need to be in the community,” Vorderlandwehr said.

“I don’t know that people really understand the full scope of the programs and services that KETCH provides.”

She said it’s wonderful to know how much the programs, services and housing help individuals get and stay engaged.

“It’s just a tremendous feeling.”