Residential Programs

Residents call Bittersweet’s Whitehouse and Pemberville farmsteads “home.”

Bittersweet was founded as a holistic alternative to institutional settings. While our residential programs have grown in the decades since our inception, our homes have retained their warm, welcoming family environment, and the spaciousness of farmstead living remains as potent as ever.

In addition to the abundant activities available on the Farm, Bittersweet is committed to providing each resident with opportunities for community engagement based on their personal interests. Community outings, both as individuals and in small groups, are a core part of our residents’ lives. Like all of us, our residents enjoy visiting local movie theaters, restaurants, libraries, sports games, live concerts, and more. Bittersweet’s residential staff accompany residents on community outings and personal errands, providing companionship and individualized support as needed.

Bittersweet operates two residential programs with different funding and waiver options to meet the unique needs of the individuals we serve:

Community Living Program

The Community Living Program serves adult residents in both Whitehouse and Pemberville. The Whitehouse location boasts three Community Living homes—East House, West House, and Palmer House (a home exclusively for women on the autism spectrum). The Community Living Program in Pemberville operates a single, smaller residential home.

The Community Living Program features independent, apartment-style living, with Bittersweet’s expert staff providing support to residents, as needed, in their home environment. Community Living services are provided through the Individual Option (IO) Waiver.

Intermediate Care Facility (ICF)

Bittersweet’s original residential program for adults, the Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) is located at our Whitehouse farmstead. The ICF is comprised of three residential homes: the Co-Op House, Middle House, and Main House. ICF services are provided through Medicaid funding.

Residents in the Bittersweet’s ICF have their own bedrooms and share main living spaces with their housemates. This living arrangement fosters close relationships between housemates, with many of the residents becoming like family to one another. The ICF team provides person-centered care for each resident and structured support for the communal life of the home as a whole.

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