SCIL begins construction of new facility at Nettleton-Cambridge

Construction of an 8,000-square-foot building for the Southwest Center for Independent Living began with a groundbreaking ceremony May 10 at Nettleton and Cambridge.

Ann Morris, executive director of the SCIL, said the new facility will cost about $900,000. She said SCIL has leased its present location at 1856 E. Cinderella for several years, but the new location will double the center's space.

"The reason we're so crowded right now is an expansion of one of the programs we operate, which is the personal assistance services program ... we've hired new people," Morris said.

That program, Morris said, is a state program that allows people who want to leave nursing homes or avoid going into them to hire their own personal assistants, who are then paid by the state.

Personal assistants are different than home health care providers, Morris said, because personal assistants can provide services that aren't directly related to health needs, such as providing transportation or recreational activities.

The new center will allow more room for other client programs as well, Morris said."We'll have a large activity room where people with disabilities can come. We have a social club every week, they can have that in there."

Morris said the center now has 12 full-time staff members and one part-time employee.

Each year, the center responds to more than 2,000 information referral requests.

Additionally, Morris said the center provides long-term, in-depth service to about 125 individuals annually.

"It's different kinds of services for different people. Of course, they're not all people with disabilities ... the information referral services are for the community also," Morris said.

Morelock-Ross is the general contractor for the project, and Morris said the center's staff hopes to be moved to the new location in early November.

(The preceding article originally appeared in the May 1 issue of the SBJ Daily Update, a subscriber-only service.)