For six years, a group of people with a vision to offer a unique community have been tirelessly working to that goal. On Monday, March 1, the dream became reality. Advocates for Community Choice, a 501(c)(3) Missouri nonprofit, closed on 127 acres near Dutzow, the new home of Bethel Hills Community.

The community will offer homes for people with disabilities and those who live alongside them.

First settled by German immigrants in 1869, Dutzow offers a beautiful, rural setting for Bethel Hills Community. Past occupants include Dakota Boys Ranch, Voelkerding Village and Rockyvine Catholic Camp.

Billie Kramme, who serves as the board president, said the work to bring the dream to reality has taken some time, but with the help of many generous advisors and donors, the property was purchased and is debt-free.

There is a great need for housing for people with disabilities. In Missouri, approximately 41,000 adults with disabilities live in a variety of situations. Kramme said that roughly 50 percent of them live with family caregivers. A quarter of those caregivers are aging parents.

Kramme said the faith-based community will provide housing for individuals, couples and families — people who have “giving and caring in their DNA.” Bethel Hills hopes to attract people who have an interest in living alongside neighbors with disabilities, providing community and caring support.

Everything will be handicapped accessible so people can “age in place.” Bethel Hills will not be providing care and support services, only housing. Families are free to make their own choices about those services.

“There are parents and advocates all over the U.S.” she said. “We are in a good place right now. We have lots of outpouring from the community. Everybody is volunteer everything!”

Although it may be toward the end of 2021 before housing is available, work has already begun by volunteers to fulfill the plans of Bethel Hills founders.

“We’re starting with what’s already here,” said Kramme. “The infrastructure is all here and the structures are as solid as a rock. That’s a real blessing.”

Kramme said the founders felt like they were spinning their wheels for a long time. Things began to really come together at the end of 2018 when they connected with a family from Texas that had started a similar community. That family is currently helping with similar communities across the nation.

“We are not the only one by far,” said Kramme. “We’ve been able to visit some of those communities and get ideas.”

Kramme said the board was advised to be very detailed in their plans, and were urged begin telling people what they were doing. The circle of people grew and donations started coming in. Approximately 100 people gave $1,000 each early on and are now designated as founders. Other donors helped purchase the property.

“You can do what you are driven to do. We have known this entire time that this had to happen because there is a great need for it,” she said. “We still need money but I’m not the least bit worried about that. You should see the outpouring from the community with their labor already. There’s so much work to do and they just jumped right in — contractors, plumbers, electricians — a lot of them retired.”

Kramme said the next goal is to raise approximately $50,000 to do the needed repairs on the current buildings. Bethel Hills Community welcomes volunteer work groups and individuals. An online application can be found on the organization’s website. Kramme said there are lots of tasks to accomplish in the coming months, from moving furniture, to painting, to cleaning up the grounds.

The event center will be the first building to undergo renovations, adding offices, a reception area and conference rooms. It’s possible that some office space or large function rooms will available to lease.

Some of the buildings will be redesigned as duplexes, instead of the existing communal living style.

Single family homes will be built during phase 2, offering one-, two- or three-bedrooms. They will be arranged in a “pedestrian-oriented pocket neighborhood” where residents can enjoy an adjoining courtyard shared with their neighbors. Parking will be along the outer perimeter of the neighborhood, but close to the residence.

The Bethel Hills Community includes a gym, event rooms and a chapel. Kramme said the community center will make it easy to encourage socialization among the residents. Some of the large gathering spaces, the gym and the chapel will be available to the general public at some point.

Kramme said that one family has already leased some of the acreage to plant a pumpkin patch near the entrance to the community. David and Becky Cox and family are creating “Drew’s Dream,” in honor of their son who has Down’s Syndrome. The pumpkin patch will be for the residents and greater community to enjoy. They hope to provide some handicapped access to the pumpkin patch.

Another possibility is utilizing the property’s barn for animals, adding greenhouses and planting community gardens.

Members of the Advocates for Community Board of Directors are Cody Stapel, Jenn Siervo, Don Smith, Don Gaertner, Lee Paridy, Lynne Unnerstall, Larry Ley and Billie Kramme. Also helping with advice for the past five years is Bart Korman, civil engineer.

Donations can be sent to P.O. Box 183, Washington, MO 63090. For more information, call Kramme at 636-390-3564 or visit advocatesforcommunitychoice.com, check out the Facebook page @AdvocatesForCommunityChoice, or twitter @ACC_Road2Bethel. The email address is ACC.Bethel@gmail.com.