In December, a team of occupational therapy practitioners and students was invited to tour Raleigh's new King’s Ridge community ahead of its completion and opening. The property, developed and operated by CASA, is designed to provide affordable housing and support to help people exit homelessness. CASA’s mission is to offer stable housing in Durham, Chapel Hill, and Raleigh, and King’s Ridge follows a permanent supportive housing model that ensures long-term stability for its residents.
The occupational therapy team’s visit had a clear mission: to share their expertise and offer valuable feedback that could enhance residents' living experiences. Antoine Bailliard, PhD, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, played a key role in organizing the visit, which included faculty members, a student, and an alum from the Duke University Occupational Therapy Doctoral (OTD) program. The goal was to ensure that King’s Ridge’s design and programming would promote an environment conducive to the well-being and success of all residents.
CASA’s Director, Erin Yates, emphasized the organization’s commitment to intentional design, noting that they aim to create a safe and stable environment where residents can thrive. The King’s Ridge community features 100 apartments and accommodates approximately 150 residents. Unlike temporary transitional housing, King’s Ridge offers a long-term home where residents sign leases and enjoy permanent supportive housing.
Resident Liaison Chris Pearson said having a full-time social worker on-site is integral to the model and helps ensure residents can live successfully in the community. “Being able to observe sudden changes in a resident’s behavior can alert us to the need for additional support,” Pearson said. “We also want to create a culture of approachability.”
During the tour, the team of occupational therapy practitioners and students actively engaged with the King’s Ridge staff by asking thoughtful questions and discussing the community’s design. The OTs provided insights on various issues, including environmental modifications and trauma-informed design principles. The King’s Ridge team was receptive and eager to incorporate the suggestions into their plans.
“My biggest takeaway from the visit was how eager the King’s Ridge staff was not only to learn, but also to implement many of the suggestions made by the OTs,” said Ray Duvall, a third-year OTD student.
The visit also represented a significant educational moment that supplemented lessons from the Duke OTD curriculum. “We have learned about environmental modifications at various levels—micro, meso, macro. The visit was a great opportunity to focus on meso-level thinking,” Duvall added.
Dr. Bailliard said the visit helped form a new community partnership with King’s Ridge and led to an invitation to participate in meetings to form a medical team to serve the community. “This will create additional possibilities for collaboration with King’s Ridge and its partners on projects in the community,” Dr. Bailliard said, “and will further demonstrate the value of community-based OT.”
More About King’s Ridge
The King’s Ridge building features trauma-informed design elements aimed at reducing stress while promoting the safety and well-being of residents. Ample natural light fills the space, and the staff offices are conveniently located on the first floor, adjacent to communal areas. The shared spaces are designed to foster a sense of community among residents, staff, and providers.
"The OT team used their expertise during the site visit to focus on enhancing meaningful participation for the patrons at Kings Ridge,” Dr. Bailliard said, “including paying close attention to third spaces within the facility that could be harnessed to develop community and belonging.”
Other community features include access to local bus routes, a partnership with the Southeast Raleigh YMCA for children to meet their neighbors, an on-site nurse to address health needs, and mental health and substance use treatment provided by SouthLight. King’s Ridge will also have regular drives to stock kitchen supplies and pantries, supporting residents as they transition into their new homes.
For more information about CASA and King’s Ridge, visit www.casanc.org.