Do you have a child, teen or young adult who needs placement in a group home for autism and you are wondering how to find one near you? Whether your son or daughter has autism, severe autism, high functioning autism, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Asperger Syndrome (AS), or Rett Syndrome, here is information about how to find the best housing options and residential placements available.
- Group Homes for Autism, High Functioning Autism, and Community Supported Living – Adults and Children
- Housing Choices for Autistic People
- How to Find Group Homes for Autism Near Me
- What is the Cost of a Group Home for Autism?
- How to Know if A Child with Autism Needs a Group Home
- How to Know if a Young Adult with Autism Needs a Group Home
- Questions to Ask When Visiting a Group Home
- Resources for Group Homes and Housing Placements for Autistic People
Group Homes for Autism, High Functioning Autism, and Community Supported Living – Adults and Children
Are you considering a group home or residential placement for an autistic child or adult? Each situation is unique but here are some factors to keep in mind.
Housing for Adults with ASD or High Functioning Autism
For adults with high-functioning autism and ASD, moving into a group home or independent living can be an exciting time of transition. Of course there are mixed emotions for both the autistic person and their parents or family members, but for many this is a positive step toward independence for everyone involved.
Housing for Adults with Severe Autism
For adults with severe autism, they will be less aware of the choices involved in their placement so family members will need to move forward with what they feel are the best options. Still, it’s important to keep the autistic person involved in all conversations and keep their best interests in mind.
Choices of placement need to consider needs such as 24/7 supervision, nursing and medical care.
Residential Placements for Children with Severe Autism
When a child needs to live outside the home environment, this is usually done because the behaviors are too much to handle in a family situation and naturally the process is much more emotionally difficult.
If you are seeking a group home or residential care for your severely autistic child, know that you are not alone. Other parents have walked this road, too. You have not done anything wrong as a parent, and the wellbeing and needs of the whole family need to be considered when making the decision.
While it might feel like placing your child in a group home is a step backward, remember that if your child’s needs are too much for you to handle in a home situation, your child will ultimately be safer and happier in a situation where they can be supervised and managed in a way that keeps them safe and helps them live up to their full potential.
Housing Choices for Autistic People
There are many housing options and placement choices available for both autistic children and adults.
Here are some of the possible residential placements to consider for autistic people:
- Stay at home with family. Over half of autistic people live with family members. This is a safe and reliable living situation that doesn’t require a transition.
- Adult foster care. Adult foster care is a situation where an autistic individual lives with a foster family in a similar way to a child who is in foster care. Financial compensation can be available through Medicaid, Medicare, or SSI (Social Security Income) or SSDI (Social Security Disability Income).
- Institutions. Some autistic children and adults live in residential placement settings where support services are provided by staff instead of family members. These placements pay be locked and people living there are supervised at all times for their safety and the safety of others. State funding can be available to cover costs. Ideally the goal is for most autistic people to live within the community when possible.
- Group homes. Group homes are small facilities in a community setting where groups of unrelated people live together in a home setting. Staff is available to care for the resident’s needs on a 24/7 basis. Group homes are run and supervised by agencies. Funding is available through state support, insurance, Medicare, and SSI and SSDI. Private pay group home options are also available.
- Cooperative Living (Co-ops). “Co-ops” are similar to group homes, except the house itself is owned by a group of families or individuals who have formed a cooperative agreement. The group hires an agency or independent caregivers to support the residents within the home. If you are considering setting up a co-op, be sure to consult an attorney.
- Supervised Living. Supervised living can be similar to a group home where individuals who are not related live together in a home-type setting. However, with supervised living there is more independence. Staff includes support providers who supervise tasks such as cooking, cleaning grocery shopping and community activities.
- Supported Living. Supported living is for adults who can live in an apartment or room independently, but still need assistance with tasks such as cleaning, shopping, or budgeting. Funding may come from personal income and public benefits.
- Independent Living. Many autistic adults are able to live independently. Family and community supports are available for specific tasks, such as money management. Funding for housing may come from income, housing vouchers, or public benefits.
How to Find Group Homes for Autism Near Me
Are you looking for group homes near you that accept autistic children, teens, or adults?
Use this listing to search by zipcode for group homes near you.
See our listing of resources below for other search options. Other ways to find group homes are to ask case managers, doctors, and the Department of Human Services in our county.
What is the Cost of a Group Home for Autism?
According to NeuroBrilliant Magazine, the cost of living in a group home averages between $65,000-$120,000 annually. This covers the entire cost of the individual living in the facility, including food, utilities, and the payment to the caregivers who help the residence daily.
Group homes are funded by a number of sources including parent income, the individual’s income, SSI, SSDI and other government programs.
How to Know if A Child with Autism Needs a Group Home
Most autistic children are able to live at home with their parents and family members.
Some children have needs that are severe and require a residential placement. In these cases, an institutional setting may be more appropriate than a group home. This might be a scary though, but remember that many residential settings use a cottage or housing structure so that children are group together in homes in order to facilitate an environment that is as close to a home setting as possible.
How to Know if a Young Adult with Autism Needs a Group Home
The decision to for a young adult to move into a group home is one that takes careful consideration for both the autistic individual and their family. There is no one path to housing, but instead explore ways to manage this life transition from a positive frame of mind.
Some factors to consider for group home placement can include:
- What are the person’s desires? (Type of home, type of community setting, desire for roomates)
- Does the person need support for every task, a few tasks, or just once in awhile?
- What are the transportation needs?
- How will healthcare be managed?
- What is available for recreation, employment, volunteering, and friendships?
- How will money be managed?
No matter the situation, focus on the individual and his or her strengths, needs, challenges and preferences.
Consider using a Community-Based Skills Assessment (CSA) which will help determine the eight areas of functional life skills.
Questions to Ask When Visiting a Group Home
Here is a list of questions to consider asking when exploring group home options:
- Who are the staff or caregivers in the home? What is their role?
- Do you like the home and yard? What are bedrooms like?
- What are other residents like? Are they friendly and do they seem content and comfortable?
- Does the home seem comfortable to you?
- How clean is the residence?
- Do the residency have privacy?
- What are the house policies and visiting hours?
- Are pets, smoking, or alcohol allowed?
- Are personal religious practices supported?
- Are bedrooms private or shared?
- Can you bring your own furniture and personal items?
- How much storage space will you have?
- Is the home handicap accessible?
- Is transportation available?
- How are meals prepared and what food is available?
- What is the cost? Is there a contract?
For more, download this free adult care home checklist to guide your decision-making process and click here for more questions to ask when visiting a group home (as written by an autistic adult).
Resources for Group Homes and Housing Placements for Autistic People
Autism Speaks Housing Toolkit – Download this free resource that explains residential care homes, group homes, and how to cover the cost of special needs housing.
Austism Housing Network – This website provides an in-depth and helpful listing of available options in each state.
Residential Care for Children – Autism, ASD, and Intellectual Disability (ID) – This listing includes residential care facilities in the United States for autistic children.
While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to finding housing for autistic children and adults, many options are available to help you location a situation that is best for your family.
Are you searching for a group home? Share about it in the comments below.
I have a 7 yr. old kiddo on my case that is severely autistic. He is on his 4th foster home and he has blown out of them all. The current one wants him out asap. I am having trouble placing him and I am hoping that you can guide me to maybe a few places. He is in school and he does go to daycare. He needs constant watching. He constantly wants food and now has started taking other kids food. He is a very energetic boy. He isn’t potty trained but working on it. Do you have any ideas
Heather, check out this post that has residential placement programs for kids with severe autism – https://childresidentialtreatment.com/residential-treatment-autism/ Some also have outpatient or day treatment programs. I hope you are able to find a suitable placement for this little guy with high needs.
my son is 7 as well.. he is also always full of energy and breaking things getting into everything etc. he has started attacking and hurting his 5 yearold sister. he smears his feces all over our home. I can’t get him to keep a pull-up on or use the bathroom. he has been denied for special needs programs and daycares. I’m 25. A single parent and I can’t keep a job because of his needs. I don’t want him in foster care.. I want him in a residential. how do I pay for that? I’d need to move because there seems to be nothing available locally.
Taylor, here is a listing of places that might be a good fit for you son – https://childresidentialtreatment.com/residential-treatment-autism/. As far as funding, contact the schools for help and also check out this post – https://childresidentialtreatment.com/funding-available-residential-treatment-children/
Heather,
I know this is two months after your comment was left, but I’m an autistic adult who might be able to provide further insight. If not to you, then at least to anyone who reads this.
“Severely autistic” is typically used to describe autistic people who also have intellectual disorders. It doesn’t describe autism itself and is not a good description for me to work with, so I am only going to speak about the autistic side of this equation.
Autistic people experience trauma specifically related to their autism, because we perceive the world differently. The double empathy problem is an eye-opening study to read if you want to learn how to help autistic children better. A seven-year-old on his fourth foster home is traumatizing for anyone, but possibly more so for autistic people because we know we’re different. We know we need to be a certain way to be loved and wanted, but those of us who can’t pass or mask well tend to “act out” more.
All behavior is communication. If he needs constant watching, he’s seeking connection that he’s not getting from the people around him. All children need connection during these early years, but autistic people struggle to connect with non-autistic people — again, because of the double empathy problem. We actually connect better and more quickly with animals, which is why equestrian therapy, emotional support animals and/or service dogs can make a huge difference in how autistic people behave. Millions of foster care kids struggle to form connections/bonds with people because they were bounced around so much and had so little stability.
Since autistic need routine and predictability to feel like they have some control their life, bouncing around the system is especially bad. Simply put, they cannot self-regulate or cope, because their world is on fire. During an autism meltdown, your body and mind are on fire. That’s most likely what he is going through, yet he has no one around him who understands him due to the double empathy problem.
Constantly wanting food can be the result of food insecurities, from never having enough food or meal times being too restrictive. It could also be the result of something called stim eating, where certain textures and flavors help self-regulate and create a sense of calm, so you can cope with the environment. Since autistic children’s food intake is often restricted, autistic people struggle with eating disorders throughout much of their life and often die from malnutrition as well.
Autistic and similarly neurodivergent individuals need more calories than non-autistic/neurotypical individuals
When I began eating disorder recovery, my psychiatrist explained to me that I would going to need to eat enough per day to restart my systems because they shut down due to low energy (calorie intake). But! I’d need to add 500-1000 more calories to make up for stimming, since I am near constantly moving my body throughout the day. I stim dance when I cook, and sway from side to side or rock back and forth when I’m sitting. Stimming burns anywhere from 200-1000+ calories per day. (Here’s a list of calories burned from different kinds of dances in 30 minutes, for reference.)
We lose energy when we’re stressed, talking, learning, reading, stretching, etc. We only have so much energy to work with each day (spoon theory). This is why we actively seek high-calorie snacks (and share when we find them).
Lastly, I wasn’t fully potty trained until 9 years old and still occasionally wet the bed. My main issues were:
– trauma from being autistic and punished for being unable to deal with people trying to treat me like I wasn’t autistic
– attending school AND behavioral therapy (which is abuse, no matter how “better” ABA proponents think it is now)
– overall lack of control in my life (my stepfather wanted me to pursue sports and constantly stressed my body by forcing me to run laps/exercise, because he hated creativity)
Sometimes, I would literally pee my pants while sitting at my desk in first grade, even though there was a bathroom inside the classroom! I was embarrassed to need to use the restroom, or struggled too much with interoception to know when I had to go. My parents made me feel ashamed on the days I would go to school wearing a pull-up, but then punished me when I wet my pants. I couldn’t win. I had zero control.
I actually developed cPTSD and dissociative identity disorder as a direct result of my repeated, severe trauma from ages 1-8.
If it is possible to place a foster child in a residential program where they can stay long-term, instead of bouncing around everywhere, until returning to their family or being adopted, that would be much better for this autistic child. I’ve read about too many tragedies involving autistic kids in foster care, and I’m genuinely scared for them all.
I want my son to be able to be functionally independent with assistance. He has high functioning ASD and able to attend school (special needs). When he is 21 what are the best options for him after he graduates from high school. I just want to find the best path for him after we pass away
My daughter is 11 nonverbal and randomly extremely violent. I can’t work or do anything for that matter. She had almost killed us both by attacking me while driving. I absolutely can’t do this anymore. Her social worker is absolutely worthless and provides me zero help just saying things like”that sounds tough” For love of God somebody help me!!!
Andrew, I’m so sorry you are going through this. It sounds like your daughter needs more care and your family needs more support. Have you seen this post? There might be a facility that is a good fit for her. https://childresidentialtreatment.com/residential-treatment-autism/
I have a 14 yr old nephew who live with me and my mother along with his 4 siblings all under the age of 10yrs. He is extremely violent always hitting my mother who has health problems. She constantly have Hernias in her stomach where he like to kick at. His 5yr old sister is scared of him and he also like to pick one the others also. As he grows older he is getting stronger, he has made multiple threats to commit suicide or to kill us. His social worker is no help she tell us that she that we are his family and we should be helping him. Please is there anyone that can help me and my family, I love my nephew but it getting hard I also have to think about the other children that live with us.
I’m so sorry you are going through this. It does sound like residential treatment would be appropriate since he is aggressive. Check out these options – https://childresidentialtreatment.com/residential-treatment-autism/
Hi Andrew. I’m an autistic adult who also has Tourette Syndrome, and just want to add that any mentions of wanting to commit suicide, even if they’re just threats, should not be taken lightly. It sounds like he needs to learn how to regulate his emotions, which will help with the increased aggression. There may be other struggles, including mental health struggles that need medication. Counseling/Therapy is crucial for autistic people early on, because it helps them to learn coping skills.
You didn’t mention whether he’s diagnosed autistic, but these behaviors are not inherently autism. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) has instructions on how to file complaints.
You can only do so much. At this point, he is a danger to himself and others, which is a red flag for anyone even when they’re not autistic.
I need to find a place for my grandaughter she has Autistic Aspberger high anxiety she is pretty self functioning I think borderline does have hygiene issues sometimes I’m older and would like to see if there are any independent places she could live with little assistance she works and goes to college but don’t drive either can she and I be helped in the Springfield Ohio area?
Hi, Jeannie! What really helped me get on my feet (I was living with my grandmother for 10+ years after high school) was therapy and anti-anxiety medication. I’m not on it anymore, but it helped remove the extreme self-awareness of people watching how I behaved differently in public (e.g. stimming), which made me self-conscious and feel ashamed of going out. These days, I don’t experience agoraphobia as much, but I do have to leave my apartment a few days a week to ensure I don’t fall back into old habits.
A common misconception about the autism spectrum is that it’s a flat line, ranging from mild to severe. It’s actually a circle. All autism is autism. “Mild autism” is just autistic people who are great at masking. “Severe autism” is often labeled that because it’s coupled with intellectual disorders, which are different from autism and not inherently related to autism. From your description, it sounds like she’s autistic without any intellectual disabilities.
Hygiene struggles usually happen because of the steps or sensory input involved.
For example, showering is mostly undressing, bathing under water, drying off and getting dressed — for non-autistic people. For autistic and similarly neurodivergent individuals, showering is actually a LOT more steps, many of which involve preparing for the sensory aspect of the entire affair.
Teaching her how to wash her important bits — face, feet, pits, pelvic area — with baby wipes can help on the days she can’t tolerate full bathing. Thing is, we feel yucky when we don’t bathe and better when we do bathe — we just can’t push ourselves beyond our current sensory and energy capacities without risking meltdowns and shutdowns. Baby wipes are the cheapest option that doesn’t require executive functioning because you just pull out a wipe, bathe, and throw it away.
Oral hygiene for neurodivergent individuals looks like having more options than basic toothbrushes and toothpaste. I keep four options on standby, though I’m currently down to just two due to inflation:
mouthwash tablets (I like to watch them fizz)
fluoride-free toothpaste (I had no idea people DON’T feel sick after brushing their teeth until I found out I’m allergic to fluoride and switched to fluoride-free toothpaste)
tooth powder (dip your wet brush in to get a little or a lot; I like Redmond Life’s lemon flavor best, because it’s kind of sweet! They have inexpensive samples)
Orawellness HealThy Mouth Blend (works as toothpaste and/or mouthwash, great for when I can’t tolerate brushing my teeth with more than just water, which is most of the time. It helps with tooth sensitivity, which helps make eating more things bearable)
I also have a tongue scraper, which has helped me enjoy food more as well.
Anti-anxiety meds helped me get to a point where I could drive again, but alternative transportation includes rideshare services (e.g. Lyft and Uber), riding a bike, carpooling with friends (like Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory), or buses/trains/subways if you have them in your area.
Many autistic adults live with roommates, friends, or partners. We often pay people to help us with tasks like cleaning and meal prepping/planning, grocery shopping, etc. That said, discussing with her the options available can help the two of you figure out a plan for the future. It’s important to include her in these plans, because she might have an idea of where she wants to live already or not even know what her options are.
I hope this helps you a bit! If you have any more questions, reply here or browse around our other autism topics.
Hello, my son is in at RTF in PA is has a lot of behavioral issues, ocd and has been living there for a few years. Anyway, they are possibly moving him to a facility in KS. He is 15 1/5. Honestly he will always been a facility/group home. What happens when he turns 18? Is it easy to transfer him to another state for adult community living? I am not sure if he will transition to the place in Ks or not. We want to move closer to family in the SC, northern FL area as we have absolutely no family in PA. We came here for better services for my kiddo. We don’t want to have to move to the middle of the county if he stays there but I would feel horrible if he does. But I want what’s best for all of us. Do you know how easy it is to translation to another state when they are older to a group facility/home?
Hello my name Tonia I have a 11yr old son he’s my only he is autistic ADHD he keeps putting his hands on me there is another parent in the home he does nothing at all he’s the father of my child he leaves it to me it’s seems talking doesn’t work with Tanaka he also threatened to kill me I don’t know if it’s something he’s watching on tv it’s really hard he does goes to school full time n still having difficulty potty training him he refused to sit on the toilet and would prefer to go in his pull-up I’m diagnosed with multiple scerosis I’m the second stage which is progressing my husband is not understanding with both our needs he feels our son will grow out of autism and feels ima get better from the multiple scerosis I’m just tired and don’t want to give up my rights I just need help with understanding my son please help n guide me in the right direction
hi i have a 15 year old autistic brother (who’s older than me) and hes become very violent in recent times. he has been hitting my brothers and me for no apparent reason. usually in the morning when he sees me he will attempt to hit/throw something at me. hes only like this if he doesnt take his medication, but the meds wear off after a while and its back to the behavior mentioned above. on top of that, hes been throwing his dirty diapers, feces, and the families belongings out the windows (the screens are broken) and our neighbors are obviously not happy about this and we are close to being kicked out of our apartment if he does not stop. please if someone could give me any advice on how to deal with this behavior? reccomendations to homes would help as well and ill have my mom look over those
Hello, I find myself looking for a residence to live after the death of my mother last week. I suffer from Aspergers Syndrome, but consider myself to be high functioning, though I lack the ability to pickup on social cues or engaging in small talk with individuals, I prefer isolation fearing direct interaction with new people. I don’t know if I would qualify for your home settings. Is there an age cap, I’m currently 60 years old. I’d like a response with advice or referrals to other locations.
Hi Calvin,
I’m a writer here and autistic myself. I’ve considered an assisted living situation for myself in the past, but the only thing I found was actually for 60+! Assisted living is similar group residential living for autistic people, but usually aimed towards disabled people and seniors who struggle to live independently. If you have paperwork and proof that you need to live in an assisted living structure, you will have an easier time regarding accommodations if you don’t meet all the guidelines.
But you are 50+, which is the typical age guideline for assisted living, so you might actually qualify for that better than you would a residential community for autistic individuals. I occasionally lived in one with my great grandmother, and the community doesn’t require participation! It was so great! I wish something similar existed for younger adults.
Have you considered looking at assisted living communities near you? They run lower in cost than autism communities.
In my research, most group homes/communities are new and aimed at younger adults. They do not seem to plan for the residents to need to spend forever there, unless they intend to grow to provide that. A few residential communities I found that don’t have age caps:
— Marbridge offers independent and semi-independent living, as well as assisted living, for autistic people. They’re known for offering autonomy to their residents. They’re located in Manchaca, TX.
— Brookwood is a Christian community for neurodivergent adults 22+. They’re located in Brookshire, TX.
— New Vista offers several activities for autistic/disabled adults, like wine tasting. They’re in Las Vegas, NV.
— Noah Homes is a Catholic community for autistic/disabled adults. They’re located in Spring Valley, CA.
Communities nearest you may not have an age cap. If you email or call, they usually reply quickly. Most list the age cap on their website, however.
I have 3 children age 7,6 and 4 they are all autistic. It seems like they’re getting worse. My house is always in shambles. They break things and ruin furniture. They have inconsolable melt downs. It’s hard to have structure and I think they’d do better outside of the home. I get no help from their dad who lives 20 minutes from me. I’m depressed. I can’t do this anymore. I can’t go anywhere and I never get a break. I don’t care for the few respite hours a week. I need to find them a residential home before I lose my mind. I’m in Tennessee.
Hi I’m in need of assistance with my 18 year old he has autism and is becoming to be too much for me at home I have a total of 10 kids at home most are babies and he hasn’t been in his best behavior I try many different ways to help him control and he wouldn’t talk to me about what is going on with him he ran out my house before he graduated school and he never did that before and now he is being aggressive with his siblings when he get caught doing something he isn’t suppose to be doing my kids aren’t feeling safe at home and I just want the best for all my kids please can anyone help me find the help I need for my 18year old
Need residential housing