Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
Hammer continues to navigate the rules and regulations regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects the pandemic has had on our industry and services. We have also been navigating an ongoing workforce shortage. But we have been resilient, we have not closed our homes and continued to work towards increasing our staffing. Hammer continued steps towards a full merger with Northeast Residence, Inc., this has expanded our footprint and allowed us to help even more families. With approximately 380 highly trained and compassionate direct care staff, we were able to serve over 359 individuals in our homes and apartment programs in 2023. We also supported roughly 1,270 people through case management and care coordination and offered a variety of supported travel opportunities for travelers with developmental and intellectual disabilities from around the country to enjoy through our Hammer Travel program which has rebounded from the peak struggles of the pandemic.
Current Goals
These are the strategic goals set forth by the Board of Directors and key staff members.
Goal 1
Complete the merger of Hammer Residences and Northeast Residence by creating a new structure, services, and systems that strengthen our abilities to meet the needs of the people we serve and fosters our relationships with communities and families.
Goal 2
Recruit, train, promote and retain a highly qualified and diverse staff to provide quality programs and services that address people’s changing needs and ensures meaningful relationships between our staff and the individuals we serve.
Goal 3
Secure sufficient and diverse funding to enable Hammer/NER to hire needed staff, upgrade and modify residences, address our debt, and maintain a reserve to cover contingency needs in case our preferred plans are disrupted for any reason.
Goal 4
Create a culturally competent, diverse, inclusive and equitable environment where all employees are empowered to contribute to their fullest potential, and envision successful futures at Hammer/NER.
Community or Constituency Served
Hammer serves individuals with a wide range of developmental and cognitive disabilities, from autism to Down syndrome to traumatic brain injury. Honoring individual needs and desires, Hammer offers an extensive array of services designed to increase independence while meeting the physical
and emotional needs of the individuals we support. Individuals, their family members and caregivers
have a key role in developing the services received in Hammer's group homes and apartments. The
residential settings are the evolution of Hammer's original services and have changed shape as
Hammer, and the human services field, have shifted focus to the individual and person-centered approach to services. The apartment programs are the most recent evolution of this focus. Hammer
began supporting individuals in their own apartments over twenty years ago, supporting individuals with the capability to live mostly on their own, with supports as needed. We often support individuals throughout their entire lives – 116 individuals served today have called Hammer home for more than 20 years.
Geographic Area Served
Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington counties in Minnesota.
