The Gatheright Family Legacy

Grandma's House

A family conversation about our parents' home

Turn your sound on · About 9 minutes
The Gatheright Family Legacy

Grandma's House

A place to belong. A chance to grow. A future to build.

Before we begin

Why I'm sharing this

This idea started with Mariah. She looked at Mom and Dad's house and saw what it could become.

It can still be a rental, rented to a home with a purpose.

— Judi
  • Remembering Nay-Nay
  • Mariah's idea
  • Young adults leaving foster care
  • Income for our family, Mom and Dad first
  • No decision today, just think about it
Our Story

More than a building

  • A home that carries our family's history
  • A fire that changed everything
  • Insurance gives us a chance to rebuild
  • Any decision must protect Mom and Dad and include all of us
The house today
The Name

Grandma's House

Because she welcomed everyone.

The Gatheright name stays with it, to honor Mom and Dad. The name is still open for family discussion.

The Mission

A home for young adults leaving foster care

Ages 18 and up. Starting small and structured.

01

Stability

A safe, steady, supportive place to live.

02

Independence

Learning to manage money, meals and daily life.

03

Opportunity

Support with school, jobs and a home of their own.

A Possible Future

From fire recovery to a renewed home

The house today
TODAY
Design concept
THE VISION

Keeps the burgundy and white · Raised roof for real upstairs bedrooms · Both entrances stay. A design picture, not an architect's drawing.

Main floor plan
Floor 1 · Main Residence

Daily living and connection

  • Shared kitchen, dining and living room
  • Cooking and eating together
  • Building everyday routines, like a family home
Second floor plan
Floor 2 · Private Rooms

Five private bedrooms

  • One person per room
  • Each room: door, window, study desk and closet
  • Two larger shared bathrooms
Basement plan
Lower Level · Recreation

For gathering, not sleeping

  • Game and TV lounge, quiet reading corner
  • Computer lab for homework and job searches
  • Laundry and bathroom

Must be fully inspected and made safe after the fire before use.

Rear Addition · Life Skills

Preparing for independence

  • Kitchen for cooking lessons, meal planning and budgeting
  • Office for program staff
  • Private room for caseworker meetings

The city must approve how this space is used.

Back house plan
Life Inside

More than a bed

01

Work & School

Tutoring, resumes, computer access and job searches.

02

Life Skills

Budgeting, cooking, keeping a home, making decisions.

03

Well-being

Rest, fun, connection and support.

The goal: when they leave, they're ready to stand on their own.

How the Family Benefits

Still a rental, with a purpose

Family Trust

Owns the house. Receives the rent. Pays taxes, insurance and repairs.

⇄Written lease
Fair rent

Nonprofit

Runs the program. Pays staff and cares for residents with its own funding.

Keeping the two separate, with a written lease and documented fair rent, is what keeps it legal and protects the family.

Examples Only, Not Promises

What the rent could mean

Monthly rentPer yearCosts & savingsCould be left
$3,500$42,000$24,000≈ $18,000
$5,000$60,000$30,000≈ $30,000
$6,500$78,000$42,000≈ $36,000

Planning examples before taxes and debts. Real rent must match comparable properties and be approved by the nonprofit.

Where the Program's Money Comes From

State funding pays for the program, not the family

$347/day

Illinois average, most supported program (TLP), 2022

$154/day

Illinois average, more independent program (ILO), 2022

1 · QUALIFYProgram and property approved
2 · CONTRACTState agrees on terms
3 · REFERRALResidents referred
4 · DOCUMENTServices recorded
5 · PAIDContract payments

Historical averages, not current offers. That money pays staff, food, transportation, insurance and care.

Staffing & Rooms

Real staff, real approvals

  • 24-hour staff on site for the most supported program
  • 168 hours a week = several paid employees
  • Room sharing only if the city and state approve
  • Starting plan: 5 private rooms upstairs
168

hours of coverage every week

Who Would Run the Program

We have choices

A

Partner with a provider

Rent the home to an established organization that already serves young adults.

B

A family nonprofit

Use one that already exists, or create a new one just for Grandma's House.

Either way: the family earns from the rent, not from the program's money.

Our Parents First

Protecting Mom and Dad, then every branch

Mom & DadLifetime benefit, as their attorney advises

THEN · AN EQUAL SHARE FOR EACH OF THE 14 CHILDREN

Lisa1/14
Cat1/14
Kris1/14
Benny1/14
Alonzo1/14
Dennis1/14
Judi1/14
Mark1/14
Torri1/14
Tim1/14
Terry1/14
David1/14
Kenya1/14
Joe1/14

A branch passes to that child's own children. A branch with no children returns to the family pool. An estate attorney would write the exact terms.

Before We Spend Money

What we need in writing

  • Insurance: what the rebuild covers
  • City of Chicago: zoning, allowed bedrooms, fire safety
  • Building team: real measurements and full renovation price
  • State or partner: which program fits, and current rates
  • Lawyer & accountant: the trust, the lease and taxes
Beyond One Home

Room to grow across Chicago

01

Prove it

Approvals, a funding partner, safe operations.

02

Build it

Good results, trained staff, steady finances.

03

Expand it

More homes, only once the first one works.

From My Heart

More than profit. More than property.

I want the hard work and sacrifice Mom and Dad poured into that house to keep blessing our family.

I'm not asking us to choose profit over purpose. I believe we can have both, together, with Mom and Dad at the center.

— Judi
Something to Think About

No decision today

  1. Does this vision feel right for the house?
  2. What parts of Mom and Dad's legacy matter most to you?
  3. What concerns should we look into before spending money?
  4. Would you like to help with the next steps?
A Family Conversation

Grandma's House

A home that honors where we came from.
A legacy that strengthens where we're going.

For Mom and Dad · For our family · For the generations still to come

Sources & Notes

For anyone who wants to read more

This is a proposal for family discussion, not a legal opinion, a binding commitment, or a government funding offer.

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