What does Supported Living mean at ALSO?

Supported Living Services at ALSO offer individually customized support that empowers people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to choose where they live, how they live, and how often they receive assistance.

What types of support can individuals receive in ALSO’s Supported Living program?

Supports include, but are not limited to, self-advocacy, money management, medical assistance, personal care, community participation such as shopping, volunteering, using public transportation, and general everyday life skills. ALSO Advocate staff help balance and facilitate these multiple life aspects.

How does ALSO support community integration?

ALSO believes people live, work, and thrive in the communities of their choice. Supported Living Services include helping individuals engage in community activities like volunteering, entertainment, recreation, mastering public transportation, and living a more integrated life in their chosen community.

What does the Roommate Model mean and why is it used?

The Roommate Model is a shared independent living option in which individuals share a living space but maintain their own individualized support plan. This model addresses one of the biggest barriers to independent living: affordable housing.

What is meant by 24-Hour Support?

24-Hour Support means that for individuals who need it, staff are available around the clock, 24 hours per day, to provide required support and services in home and community settings.

How do I see what living with ALSO Supported Living might look like?

ALSO encourages tours of homes to allow individuals and families to experience how Heart Work comes alive in supported living programs. You can schedule a tour through ALSO’s website or contact the team directly.

How do I get started or learn more about Supported Living with ALSO?

You can reach out to ALSO by calling (503) 773-4528 or emailing info@alsoweb.org.

Supported Living

Q: Who is eligible for Supported Living?

Individuals who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities and seek a self-sustaining, independent living situation in their community are eligible. ALSO collaborates to build a plan unique to each person’s needs, preferences, and goals.

What Are Supported Living Services?

Supported living is a model of disability support that helps adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities live in homes of their own (whether renting an apartment, sharing a home with a roommate, or living with family) while receiving individualized assistance tailored to their specific needs.

Unlike residential care, where a provider arranges both the home and 24-hour staffing, supported living meets people where they already are (or where they choose to be) and they do offer 24-hour on-call services. The goal is not to place someone in a program. The goal is to build around the life the person wants to lead.

At ALSO, supported living services are delivered by trained Advocates and Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who work alongside individuals, not for them, to help navigate daily life with as much independence as possible.

What Our Supported Living Services Include

ALSO’s Advocates look at the whole person and tailor support across every area of daily life. Depending on an individual’s needs and goals, supported living services may include:

Self-advocacy skill building and decision-making support
Money management and budgeting
Medical appointments, medication management, and health monitoring
Personal care and hygiene
Meal planning, grocery shopping, and cooking
Transportation: driving, public transit coaching, or ride coordination
Housing stability support: lease navigation, landlord communication
Employment support and coordination with ALSO’s Employment Services team
Social and recreational activities
Volunteering and civic participation
Communication and technology assistance

Every plan is individualized. As individuals grow in independence or their circumstances change, the level and type of support shifts with them.

Our Person-Centered Approach

Choice Is the Foundation

At ALSO, supported living begins with a question: what kind of life do you want? We don’t start with available slots or standard packages. We start with the person. Where do you want to live? What does your ideal day look like? What goals matter most to you right now? From those answers, we build a plan, and we keep building it as goals evolve.

Support Enables Independence

A common misconception is that being ‘independent’ means doing everything alone. At ALSO, we understand independence as the ability to direct your own life: to make your own choices, pursue your own goals, and be a full member of your community. The right support is what makes independence possible.

“I do the best job I can for whoever I can. I want to be a beam of light and treat people like I want to be treated. Respect and dignity go a long way.”

M. Ricker

ALSO Advocate

Real Stories: Life with ALSO Supported Living

Meet Glenda

Glenda is a Portland-area resident whose life with ALSO is a study in the small moments that add up to a meaningful life. One of her favorite things is making thumbprint cookies with her support staff, a tradition that connects her to memories of cooking with her grandmother. From birthday celebrations to daily routines, ALSO’s supported living team works to ensure that life feels like life, not like a program.

“One of my favorite things to do is to make thumbprint cookies with my staff. It reminds me of when I was little and then with my grandmother.”

-Glenda

Who Is Eligible for Supported Living Services?

Supported living services are designed for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who want to live as independently as possible in their own home or a community setting. Oregon defines a developmental disability as a severe, lifelong condition that begins before age 22 and causes significant limitations in three or more major life activities.

Eligibility is determined through Oregon’s Office of Developmental Disability Services (ODDS) and your local county developmental disabilities office. Funding is typically provided through Medicaid (Oregon Health Plan) via the K Plan or Comprehensive waiver.

How to Get Started with Supported Living in Oregon

Contact your county’s Developmental Disabilities office or Support Services Brokerage to begin an eligibility assessment.
Once eligible, work with your county coordinator or broker to identify your goals and the type of support you need.
Referrals are sent to providers like ALSO. We review each referral and reach out to discuss fit and availability.
Person-centered planning begins, with the individual’s goals, preferences, and support needs at the center of everything.
Services begin with regular check-ins and plan updates built in from the start.

For a detailed walkthrough, read our guide: How to Get Disability Services in Oregon..

Understanding Your Options: Supported Living vs. Other Services

ALSO offers multiple levels of residential and community-based support. Understanding the differences can help individuals and families choose the right fit:

Service	Best For	Level of Support
Supported Living	Adults who want to live independently, with tailored backup	Flexible, from a few hours a week to around the clock
Residential Care	Adults needing 24/7 staffed support in a shared home	High, around-the-clock
In-Home Support	People living with family or in their own home who need targeted help	Varies — scheduled visits

Not sure which service is right? Contact our team or explore ALSO’s full range of services to learn more.

Where ALSO Provides Supported Living Services

ALSO currently offers Supported Living Services in the Portland Metro area, with additional services available through our broader network across nine Oregon counties: