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Specialty Homes is here to assist People Living with Disabilities (PLWD) and was founded by Jared Grosser in June of 2020. We work with partners in the community to provide programs and services to those in need. While there is currently a gap in the housing market for ADA compliant homes, we dream of bridging this gap by renovating and building accessible houses for those in need. We realize that between a traditional mortgage loan and renovation loan the cost of a differently abled house can far exceed the financial limits of those in need which is where Specialty Homes comes in. We will work with people living with disabilities and their families to ensure their house becomes a true home, because we believe everyone deserves to live life as fully as possible in the home of their choice.
Jared Grosser
Executive Director
Jared Grosser founded Specialty Homes in June 2020. Jared works full-time as a Desktop Engineer for Goshen Health Systems. Jared studied for his bachelor's at the University of Southern Indiana and his Master's at the University of Phoenix. He brings a certain perspective to the vision of Specialty Homes because he has a disability himself. Jared was born over 2 months early with Cerebral Palsy. Jared knows the struggle of finding a home that will suit his needs, and that matches his disability. He has been looking for a house to call home since 2013. In this search, he's realized that there just aren't homes out there for people with disabilities, at least not affordable to most. That is why he founded Specialty Homes.
Everyone on our team was picked because they bring something unique to Specialty Homes. We look forward to using our collective strength to find solutions that fit your individual needs.
Anne Mayer
Director of Advocacy & DevelopmentAnne Mayer is currently the Director of Advocacy and Development. She holds a Juris Doctorate from Valparaiso University School of Law and is currently pursuing a Master Degree in Social Work. She hopes to use these degrees to focus on diversity and inclusion, social policy, and human rights. Anne was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease a decade ago and having struggled with accessible housing herself, she finds personal meaning behind Specialty Home’s mission and cause. She seeks to bring innovation and change to northwest Indiana and looks forward to tackling inaccessibility one project at a time.
Carmen Chandler
Social Resources Coordinator
Carmen Chandler is our Social Resources Coordinator and has a passion for assisting members of her community in taking advantage of all the resources available to them to live more comfortable, fulfilling lives. As a licensed health insurance advisor with experience in both Medicaid and Medicare, she has the skills and knowledge to counsel on how to navigate disability support benefits provided through insurance, personal grants, and community resources. With her skills and experience in advocacy, education, and communication, and a strong sense of civic duty, she strives to champion housing and income equality and confront ageism and ableist beliefs in our society. She is currently working towards her Bachelor of Science in Human Services.
Angie Smith
Secretary/Treasurer
Angela “Angie” Smith is our Board Secretary and currently acting as Treasurer. She works full-time as an Executive Assistant to the CNO at Goshen Health and serves on the DEI Action Council within the organization. In joining Specialty Homes, Angie hopes to make a positive difference in supporting the organization administratively and furthermore assist the purpose of this righteous program. Angie was born and raised in Elkhart, Indiana and now resides in nearby Bristol, Indiana with her spouse, two children, and four dogs. Spare time is occupied with hobbies of outdoor activities, home improvement projects, and the love for the fall weather.
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