Jim and Diana outside the McADU

“What is the main thing you want your home to be?” Diana Lett asked her son, Jim.

“I want it to be colorful,” Jim responded.

In November 2024, Jim Lett moved into his new home—one of two additional dwelling units (ADUs) recently built by MV Advancements behind the Brooks Street group home in McMinnville.

The ADUs are brand new single-person homes, rented exclusively to individuals supported by MV Advancements. Each unit, measuring 450 square feet, includes one bedroom, one bathroom, a full kitchen, and living space. The goal of the ADU project is to provide safe, affordable housing for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) where they can also build life skills and prepare for the future.

For Jim and Diana, this milestone is a dream nearly 30 years in the making.

“This is something we’ve wanted for Jim since he was young,” Diana explained. “It’s just that [the ADUs] weren’t here yet.”

Diana has long been an advocate for better housing options for the I/DD community. In 1995, she joined Families United for Independent Living, a parent group dedicated to raising funds for such initiatives, resulting in the development of Hendricks Place in McMinnville and Springbrook Place apartments in Newberg. Her early efforts laid the groundwork for the opportunities available to Jim today.

Over the years, Jim came close to moving out on his own. In 2018, he considered an apartment at Springbrook Apartments in Newberg, and in 2019, he explored another at Baker Street Apartments in McMinnville. However, neither felt quite right.

“It just wasn’t home,” Jim said.

But the ADU was different. From the moment he moved in, Jim began making it his own.

The first thing Jim brought to his new home was his baking supplies. A talented baker, Jim has a knack for keeping the kitchen stocked with fresh cookies and treats. He also loves cooking, from roasting vegetables to perfecting guacamole.

“I’ve gotten spoiled having him around,” Diana shared with a laugh. “I’m going to miss him.”

Next came Jim’s art supplies. Step through the front door, and you’ll immediately notice his art desk. It is stocked with hundreds of colored pencils, making the wall a rainbow, and everything else an artist needs.

Recently, Jim has expanded into digital art, using Photoshop to create custom greeting cards for birthdays, holidays, and other special occasions.

Jim’s transition to independent living is supported by MV Advancements’ Supported Living Program. The staff will assist him with day-to-day tasks, such as transportation, medication management, grocery shopping, doctor’s appointments, and other aspects of life. With their guidance, Diana feels confident Jim is ready to thrive on his own.

“We have been working towards this his whole life, and here we have an opportunity because MVA is the thing making it possible,” Diana said. “The services they have, and the quality of staff is what is making me feel like it is possible. I feel confident in MVA.”

Once Jim was fully moved in, there was just one final touch needed: a name for his new home.

When Diana asked if Jim had thought of one, his answer came easily. Thinking back to visits with his grandmother in Little Rock, Arkansas on McAdoo Street, Jim smiled and exclaimed:

“It’s my McADU!”

At MVA, our mission is to support people to live their best life. Jim’s move is just a step on the journey to independence and we are excited about what the future holds for him.