EasyLiving
Home(CM)
The Program
The EasyLiving Home(CM) program is a certification program designed to encourage builders of single-family homes and townhomes to incorporate several features that increase the sellers' market and offer buyers a home easy for all to live in and visit.
The Features
An EasyLiving Home(CM) offers
- At least one full bath on the main floor, with ample maneuvering space
- A bedroom on the main
- Some entertainment space on the main, and a kitchen of course
- Ample interior door widths
- One stepless entrance (at the front, side, or back of the home, or through the garage)
The Advantages
- A stepless entrance makes it easy and safe to bring in heavy items, come in with arms full of groceries, or push in a baby carriage.
- Ample door widths make it easy to get around inside.
- The home welcomes all friends, family and visitors regardless of age, size or physical ability.
- EasyLiving Home(CM) features make it easier to remain in one's home if a family member develops mobility limitations, instead of moving to another house or an institution.
- EasyLiving Home(CM) features widen the market for the builder, and for the owner at re-sale.
Who's running the EasyLiving Home(CM) program?
A coalition of Georgia citizens that includes AARP of Georgia, Atlanta Regional Commission, Concrete Change, Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities, Home Builders Association of Georgia, and the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia.
Are Georgia builders already building certified EasyLiving Homes(CM) ?
Yes. We certified our first home in April, 2002, and have steadily enrolled new builders. Our participating builders range from Alpharetta to Hahira, Snellville to Savannah. Prices have ranged from modest 1,200 square foot homes costing less than $100,000 to upscale homes exceeding 4,000 square feet costing more than half a million.
How do Georgia builders, home buyers and other interested Georgians get involved?
For more information, contact our program director, Bonnie Bonham, at (770) 270-1611 or bbonham@easylivinghome.org, We're happy to explain the program to interested builders, follow up on requests from potential home buyers to send information to specific builders, and give presentations about the program to civic groups. Also, see the EasyLiving website at www.easylivinghome.org
What if you're not from Georgia?
After several years of experience, we have now begun to export the program beyond Georgia. We have held three Replication Summits for people from out of state, and we have reached formal agreements with three states based on their demonstrated interest and capacity to carry out the program. Participating states outside of Georgia are West Virginia, New Hampshire and Texas.
It's important that folks who have not entered into a formal agreement respect our copyright by refraining from using a term similar to Easy Living to designate any similar home certification program, and by not copying materials, photos or intellectual property from our program. (Our legal certification mark was approved by the US Patent Office in 2002.)
We are not adding new affiliates at this time due to our commitment to offer technical assistance to the first three affiliates during their first two years of operation. However, we send information to all inquirers and keep contact their information in a file. For more information, contact Bonnie Bonham, Project Director.
