Our Frequently Asked Questions

One of the best aspects of an Intentional Community, is that there will be so many options at all times! There is lots of socializing, educational classes, community outings, fitness activities as well as pre-vocational training, job coaching and more opportunities for some part time employment if so desired. Our residents can stay active, engaged, and part of the community while choosing from a wide range of options on how to enjoy their lives. Leisure time and relaxing is also a part of a full life, so there will be planned time for that as well. All of this will be available with supports and safety in place.

Vanguard Landing provides residential, pre-vocational, employment, and recreational opportunities for adults who, among all of their special gifts, have an intellectual or developmental disability. Our aim is to support those with mild to moderately support needs but we acknowledge that everyone is an individual; therefore, our admissions process assesses each person to ensure we can adequately meet their support needs. Additionally, our residents must be at least 18 years or older. 

Yes, Vanguard Landing is excited and ready to offer the best of care in our community no matter the age. Many of our sister communities across the country have built new buildings primarily customized to the needs of their residents. The intention is that our residents will stay with us as long as they wish and as long as we can meet their needs. Our community is designed to be an aging-in-place community.

In addition to our customized Services for each of our residents, the residents’ room and board will cover almost everything with the exception of medical insurance, co-pays, OTC medications, clothing, and travel. All families/caregivers will have more specific discussions in their Admissions meetings prior to “Move In Day.” 

Room/Board/Services Fees cover their private room, private bathroom, food, utilities, on-site activities, amenities, programs including pre-vocational programming, and transportation. Residents must have their own medical insurance.

See our Admissions Tab for the Application to download and a digital booklet highlighting the process in detail. Click here to access that page.

*Please Note: we have 123 residential spots in Phase One and are almost half full. Do not delay in getting your Application turned in to secure your loved ones’ spot!

Vanguard Landing’s business plan was developed to meet and exceed the requirements to be both a private pay provider AND a Medicaid waiver provider.

We will submit our application to be a supported living provider and go through the process like all providers.

VGL abides by ALL of the HCBS guidelines and because of Olmstead and the DOJ settlement, VGL will be able to help with the community-based service needs that are so high right now. 

Vanguard Landing will accept both Private Pay and a combination of Private Pay (for room, board, and other expenses) + Medicaid Waiver (DMAS-funded supports and services). 

Seeing as this intentional community model is new to Virginia, we understand there’s a learning curve for case managers and others—please reach out if you need help navigating the process!

Yes! It is a very good idea as we expect to only have a waitlist by the time we start moving Phase One residents in in 2026. If you’re child gets placed on our “Incoming Residents List” but is not quite old enough to move to VGL, you’ll retain your child’s place, and when the space comes available, you’d be contacted and offered the space before others. 

We plan to offer a Day Program but do not have that date set just yet. If the Residential program is in your child’s future at all, the BEST way to ensure that your family member is not too far down on the list for residential services, is to complete the Admissions Applications and simple check THAT option on the forms and submit the full packet, including the financial application.  Applying and paying the Residential Program Admissions Fee, your child will be on BOTH lists (Residential AND Day) at the same time. They would then start as a day participant and when they/you are ready for residential, we would give priority to whoever is on that list, in order of when the application and payment were completed. 

With this exceptional model, we will have a 5:1 ratio minimally, meaning 5 residents to 1 direct support professional. The density of our staffing will continue to be determined as the needs of our residents are identified. If your child requires more or less, at VGL, their supports will be customized to match.

Once we broke ground in May 2025, there is no “wait list” anymore. This “wait list” was a list of applicants who had completed their Admissions Application process and was waiting for a closer timeline of “Grand Opening/Move Ins” to begin!

We currently have a wait list for our Day Program (starting in a few years) and we have a growing “Incoming Residents’ List” with people waiting for their Move In date in 2026. Once all our original 125 residential spots are filled, THEN we will have an official Wait List. Those on that list will be assigned a number and when space becomes available, they would be contacted in order and based on which space is available.

*Note: We DO have a “Youth Wait List” as applicants apply to secure their future spot, but their child is not old enough to move in just yet.

The Community Living Waiver or FIS Waiver are desired. Consult with your Support Coordinator for more details or contact us if you have questions.

Note: Ensure the FIS waiver will be comprehensive enough for congregate housing like Vanguard Landing. 

While there are no “trial periods” for Residential program participants, all residents can of course decide to no longer participate. The family, resident or Vanguard Landing staff can initiate the process if it’s determined that VGL is not a good fit for someone. 

Additionally, there is a detailed Admissions Process to include several interviews, assessments and even a Transition Program designed to support your family member on their Journey to Vanguard Landing!

Part of a full and happy life is to enjoy having visitors and welcoming them to show where you live, work, and spend time with friends! We will honor visitation requests and work with each family to ensure timely approval and scheduling of visitation. Some coordination is required as our community is very active and we’ll work around the Residents’ social, educational, and other activities.

An intentional community is a residential area designed for high social cohesion and teamwork. Vanguard Landing (VGL) is the first of its kind in Virginia, but this concept exists nationwide. This model actively promotes engaging individuals with non-disabled individuals through a variety of vocational and recreational activities chosen by the individual and his or her family. In fact, many of these individuals have tried living in small homes in neighborhoods and have found such settings to be extremely isolating and detrimental to their health and happiness.

VGL is a member of the National Advocacy Group, Together for Choice, 501(c)(3) organization promoting the right of individuals with developmental disabilities to choose their living and daily activities.

Other intentional neighborhoods are throughout the country – being built, continuing the expand, and thriving by providing high-quality and creative services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Vanguard Landing offers another option to address the lack of housing choices.

Our well-planned community is not only designed to be interactive and self-sustaining within itself, it also is set up to collaborate and be utilized by all members of our greater community. The Intentional Community concept actively promotes engaging individuals with non-disabled individuals through a variety of vocational and recreational activities chosen by the individual and his or her family. In fact, many of these individuals have tried living in small homes in neighborhoods and have found such settings to be extremely isolating and detrimental to their health and happiness.

Vanguard Landing will have a beautiful and dynamic neighborhood that will be a shining example of a true community with everyone receiving whatever level of support they need. While we, of course, are focused on the needs of our friends with ID/DD, we will also have neuro-typical adults who also live in the neighborhood. A supportive neighborhood with incredible amenities within walking distance is what many want and deserve. We are excited to utilize a variety of partnerships with businesses and other providers.

Phase One will have 128 residents, and be neuro-diverse, meaning some neuro-typical residents (non-disabled) will live in 1-bedroom townhouses within the same neighborhood as the rest of our residents who have a diagnosis of Intellectual or developmental disabilities.  Adding additional housing or other necessary buildings are being considered after these 128 spaces are filled. 

We have established three endowment funds to help sustain Vanguard Landing into the future and keep our programs accessible. Donors can contribute to the Scholarship Endowment, the Maintenance Fund Endowment, and The VanGarden Endowment.

Yes! Vanguard Landing will provide transportation to appointments and off-site employment, community outings, shopping, and more. A certain amount of transports will be allotted per resident. Outside the allotted/pre-planned rides, if extra transportation is required or develops, Vanguard Landing has a fee schedule to include additional rides.

Vanguard Landing offers two different living arrangements: five-bedroom, one-story cottages, and one-bedroom, one-story townhomes. Each home will be single-gender. The exception would be a married couple renting a one-bedroom rowhouse. The approved applicants will be placed in cottages based on similar interests.

Phase One is our focus with Phase One completion and first expansion being raised currently. We do not have a definite date set as to when we would start building more housing/buildings. We are assessing the needs of our residents carefully and planning our next steps accordingly. 

When our Founder began her research, she also researched words that meant “forward thinking,” “unstoppable,” and “strong.” She discovered the word “Vanguard,” which means “leaders of an action or movement in society.” Then, a fellow parent thought “well, it should sound like a safe place to land, how about “Landing?”