Douglas County opens $2.5M grant to expand IDD housing

Douglas County announced on Jan. 15 that it will award one project a three-year IDD Housing and Supportive Services Grant totaling $2.5 million to expand housing and person-centered supports for residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The county set the application deadline for Jan. 30, 2026 and capped annual payments at $833,333, subject to contract terms and performance.

The funded project must combine stable housing with supportive services that promote independence, safety and community inclusion, aligning with the county’s stated goals to expand housing stability and long-term supports for people with IDD. County officials expect applicants to layer additional funding from public, private or philanthropic sources rather than relying solely on the grant award.

Douglas County set clear limits on eligible uses. Grant funds cannot be used for costs already incurred, general operating expenses, administrative overhead, or models based on host homes or family care homes. Those restrictions narrow the types of projects that will qualify and steer applicants toward capital investments, new supportive-housing developments, or service models integrated into permanent housing.

The single-award structure and three-year term mean providers, developers and nonprofit organizations must present a feasible, sustainable plan that shows measurable outcomes within the funding period. For local service providers and families, the opportunity could support projects such as accessible apartment developments with embedded case management, tenancy supports, or coordinated community-inclusion programming tailored to individual needs.

For Douglas County residents, the grant represents both a funding stream and a strategic signal. The county is prioritizing long-term housing stability and individualized supports rather than short-term placements or family-host models. That emphasis responds to ongoing concerns among families and advocates about scarcity of stable, community-based options for adults with IDD.

Nonprofit providers and housing developers considering an application should review program documents and application instructions posted by the county and prepare plans that demonstrate additional leveraged funding, clearly delineated uses of grant dollars, and performance measures tied to independence and community inclusion. Proposals will be judged against the county’s objectives to expand housing stability and long-term supports.

This grant could seed one demonstrable model in Douglas County that combines safe, accessible housing with person-centered supports. For residents and local agencies, the immediate next step is to consult the county’s posted application materials and submit proposals by Jan. 30, 2026; for the wider community, the award will signal what kinds of housing and support strategies the county intends to scale next.