A non-profit that has served Essex County for over 45 years will be expanding on their services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities as Jespy Center has begun construction.
Ground was broken in June on the project, which will rise on the Cooperman Family Campus in South Orange. The facility will be run by Jespy House, who provide services and programs that help more than 300 adults with disabilities to live independently in South Orange.
“This is not just about buildings,” said Audrey Winkler, executive director of Jespy House during the ceremony. “For too long, adults [with intellectual and developmental disabilities] have been left out of conversations about affordable housing and aging services. The Jespy Center changes that. It says loudly and clearly: you belong and your future is important.”
The facility will add 20 aging-in-place suites along with 26 affordably priced apartments plus new space dedicated to vocational training, health and wellness, clinical and behavioral supports. The expansion, estimate to cost about $26.5 million, will enable longtime clients to remain in their homes as they grow older.
Toby and Leon Cooperman, whose $13.25 million matching gift helped launch the project, beamed with pride in a statement following the groundbreaking.
“The Jespy Center is an investment in the future,” said Leon Cooperman. “These adults need a place they can call home—a place for recreation, support, and stability after their parents are gone. Toby and I have great hope that our matching challenge will inspire others to step forward.”
Jespy House hopes to complete construction of the facility by the end of 2026. The nonprofit has additional plans in the pipeline for another endeavor called The Hub, which aims to create another 20 units of housing designed specifically for young adults, plus a training kitchen, library, and technology center.
