As the owner of a real estate company, Barrington Group Real Estate, I would like to introduce you to Wellspring Community. My hope is to help you understand not only about buying and selling in the real estate industry, but also about other important resources for housing.
I had the pleasure of meeting with Peter Barber, the Development Director of Wellspring Community in Castle Rock, Colorado. Wellspring Community is a nonprofit dedicated to providing three key things for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Three key things that Wellspring Community provides adults with IDD:
- Educational Day Programming
- Meaningful Work Opportunities
- Housing Solutions

The first key service is a day program where they provide a variety of different classes for adults with IDD to enjoy. The second key program is to provide work opportunities for the Stars (the participants in the programs) so that they have a sense of engaging in meaningful work. The third key service is to provide a housing solution for adults with IDD.
In an effort to provide the third key aspect of Wellspring’s work, they are transitioning an old LaQuinta hotel into apartment complex for adults with IDD. Once the remodel is finished, the housing community will be called Unity Park and will offer 42 units ranging from studio apartments to one bedroom apartments that will provide housing for adults with IDD in the community.

Why is housing for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities so important?
Unity Park, the development for housing apartments for adults with IDD, is such an important piece of the community. The options for housing for adults with IDD in Douglas County are very limited. There are 20,000 adults with IDD who are living with a caregiver and they don’t know what the plan will be for housing once those caregivers are unable to care for those adults. This is a very real need that Douglas County saw the demand for and partnered with Wellspring Community in creating this facility that’s providing housing in such an important way.
To support what Wellspring Community does, donations can be made through their website. Beyond monetary donations, they love for the greater community to come and meet the Stars. The program participants call themselves Stars because they are the stars of the Wellspring story. Tours are offered once a month and people are welcome to come and see the hotel if they want. Visitors can see the program, see some of the Stars engaged in the various different classes offered, or come and visit the coffee shop. Wellspring & CO. Coffee is located in downtown Castle Rock, Colorado at the Castle Rock Collective, which employs adults with IDD as baristas.

I can’t tell you how excited I was to take a tour with Peter at the Wellspring Community. I encourage you to contact Wellspring and take a tour of this amazing place.
Whether you’re buying or selling real estate, or just looking for housing resources, you’ll find it here at Parker is My Town. And don’t forget to like this video and subscribe to the Barrington Group Real Estate YouTube channel.