A groundbreaking was held on Thursday, Jan. 4 at the future location of a housing complex for adults in the Webster County community with disabilities. Jordan’s Place is a housing project that non-profit WC CapeAbilities, along with the Webster County SB 40 board, has worked tirelessly to bring to Webster County. WC CapeAbilities was formed to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Webster County. The SB 40 board was created by Senate Bill 40. Each person in Webster County pays a small tax that goes specifically toward individuals with developmental disabilities due to this bill. Two weeks ago, the SB 40 board sold and transferred a piece of property they owned on West Washington Street, which put the plan for a housing complex in motion.
“The great thing about this complex is that sometimes people think that individuals with developmental disabilities don’t want independence… but they have hopes and dreams just like everybody else. And part of that is having the independence to live in their own place,” said Webster County Public Administrator Danielle Boggs. “This will allow individuals with developmental disabilities to have their own apartment and give them a place that’s not a group home. I think the biggest thing is that this will give them the ability financially to support themselves and live more independently.”
The complex will provide affordable housing for the neurodivergent/diverse abilities community, as well as for unhoused seniors of Webster County. It will be an inclusive environment with a community center.
Jordan’s Place got its name from Jordan Estes-Fenner. He was a vital, wonderful young man who traveled to every continent by the time he was 30. Jordan was a fireman/paramedic. He fed the homeless. Everything changed when he was hit by a drunk driver while riding his bike. This accident caused a traumatic brain injury. He changed.
Seizures started and then became uncontrollable. Jordan had to stop working and eventually move in with his parents. His Social Security benefits were denied. Jordan stated he "couldn’t be a lay about." Jordan ran out of hope...In 2015, he took his life.
No one should lose hope. Jordan’s Place is about hope. Jordan’s mom, Joyce, is the chairman of WC CapeAbilities. She knows that nothing takes away the pain of losing a child. But somehow, in some way, building Jordan’s Place is making the pain more tolerable.
“Our goal is to have apartments available as soon as January of 2025, if there are no construction delays,” Boggs added.
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