The Case For Building An Adult Family Home

Circle of Care is taking the necessary steps to ensure that it is feasible, demographically and financially, to build one or more adult family homes (AFH) in Point Roberts.

We have just completed a market feasibility study, authored by David Stumpo, a 22-year resident of Point Roberts.

Stumpo is the founder of APTREX Institute. The institute is known as a pioneer in the field of transit operations and workforce development specifically for professional transit certification of managerial staff from front line supervisors to senior and executive management. He has been instrumental in strategic planning, SWAT analysis, business development and operations and maintenance start-ups for public transit agencies.

This market feasibility study conducted over the last several months will drive the implementation phase for the creation of an adult family home in Point Roberts.

What is an adult family home?

“These are residential homes licensed to care for up to six non-related residents. They provide room, board, laundry, necessary supervision, and necessary help with activities of daily living, personal care, and social services.” (RCW 70.128.010)

There were three main elements considered in the feasibility study:

1. The demographics of the community

2. The requirement for staffing a 24 hours/7 days-a-week operation

3. What competition exists for similar operations

First, to accurately determine if the population can support an AFH, it is important to evaluate the appropriate age range of potential residents, regardless of the total population of the community. Among the 65 to 74-year-old age group, six percent report relocating for health reasons; however, among the 75-plus cohort, this proportion swells to 26 percent.

Second, employment in Point Roberts historically has been a major challenge for businesses as the result of border rule changes and available rental housing. Because our economy is small and narrowly based, employment opportunities for full‐time work have been limited.

As a result, it has been more difficult to attract a labor force to commit to living and working in a remote community like Point Roberts. Circle of Care’s plan includes providing long term rental housing to staff to ensure long-term, permanent employment.

The opportunity to live in a beautiful, safe community with affordable housing, without the stress and strain of traffic, safety issues as well as job security will override any hesitations about relocating here. Once the determination is made to build an adult family home, the adage “build it and they will come” will be the impetus behind filling the necessary job positions required.

Third, competition for this project is simply non-existent. There is no competition in Point Roberts. All existing adult family homes and skilled nursing facilities in Whatcom County are currently at full capacity and many have lengthy waitlists.

Finally, the three key components of the demographics, the staffing, and the competition, confirm the validity of the assumptions and recommendations outlined in the report.

In answer to the question, “Is this project feasible,” the answer is a resounding Yes!

Our next step is to conduct a financial feasibility study to determine what funding will be necessary and if one AFH (or more) can be successful over the years and generations.

If you would like a copy of the market feasibility study, please contact the Circle of Care at 360/945-5222 or email us at prcircleofcare@gmail.com.