From Survival to Purpose: My Journey from Special Needs Dad to Housing Advocate
If you had told me ten years ago that I’d one day be leading a nonprofit foundation dedicated to reimagining housing for people with disabilities, I might have laughed—or cried. The truth is, this path wasn't something I planned. It emerged out of love, desperation, and eventually, a deep sense of mission.
I’m a father. That’s how this started. My daughter was born with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and like many parents in similar circumstances, my wife and I spent years trying to build a life around her needs—educational, medical, social, and ultimately, housing. What happens when we're gone? That haunting question never left us.
The answer, as it turns out, was not easy—or cheap. We couldn’t find anything that felt safe, supportive, and dignified for our daughter as an adult. So we built it.
That project became Luna Azul, the first for-sale, intentional community of its kind in the U.S., right here in Phoenix (www.lunaphx.com). It was a passion project born of necessity, and while I’m incredibly proud of it, I won’t sugarcoat the experience. Financing a groundbreaking development like this as a first-time developer is brutal. I came close to bankruptcy more than once. I drained personal savings, maxed out credit lines, and fought tooth and nail to keep it alive. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt that vulnerable in my life.
But it worked. Luna Azul now houses over thirty adults with disabilities in a safe, connected community—many of them thriving in ways their families never imagined possible.
That experience changed me. It wasn’t just about my daughter anymore. I’d seen the system up close—the housing options (or lack thereof), the financial barriers, the policy blind spots—and I knew I couldn’t walk away. So I didn’t.
Today, I lead The Cottage Foundation, a nonprofit committed to creating more equity-based, community-rooted housing for people with disabilities. We’re piloting new models—cooperative ownership, HUD-backed financing—because we believe everyone deserves a safe, affordable, and dignified place to live, especially those who’ve been historically excluded.
I’m not a real estate mogul or a seasoned nonprofit executive. I’m a dad who refused to accept “there’s nothing out there” as an answer. I’ve seen what’s possible when you build not just with bricks, but with purpose and love. Now, I want to help others do the same.
As we continue to expand the work at The Cottage Foundation, we know that partnerships with like-minded organizations and supporters are critical to our success. We are committed to building a model that can be replicated nationwide, but we can’t do it alone. We invite funders, collaborators, and advocates to join us in creating a future where everyone—especially people with disabilities—can find the secure, dignified housing they deserve.
We’ve got a long way to go. But we’re not starting from zero anymore. We’re starting from experience, grit, and a growing community of people who believe that permanent and supported housing can be meaningful—even for those society often forgets.
