By MaryBeth Matzek | Photography by Hillary Schave
After spending 25 years dreaming of creating an intergenerational neighborhood, Karin Krause will see it become a reality when Hope & A Future breaks ground later this year.
“This has been a long journey, but it’s also been pioneering,” says Krause, a retired registered nurse who dreamed of building an intentionally designed community to support and connect people of multiple age groups — from young families with children up to seniors — through shared spaces and daily interactions. “This is something I’m passionate about. Children and older people gain so much from being together.”
The Hope & A Future neighborhood will include 15 one- and two-bedroom life lease condos for independent seniors, four two-bedroom workforce apartments, a multipurpose room with a stage, a library, an exercise room and a commercial kitchen.
Services will also include affordable adult and child day care and after-school programs. Krause says there will also be indoor and outdoor spaces for intergenerational programs that are open to the entire community.
“We’re fundraising right now and hope to go to the bank this spring and get the construction loan. From there, we hope to begin construction,” she says. Her intergenerational neighborhood will be built on the same West Side Madison property that Hope & A Future’s current adult family home is located, which to date houses four residents, staff and Krause and her husband. Staff bring their children to work and volunteers “help all genera- tions flourish as residents are cared for in their last stage of life,” she says.
Krause says Hope & A Future plays a vital role in fighting the loneliness epidemic.
“People don’t have to be alone. We can create these communities and opportunities that bring people of all ages together and everyone benefits,” she says.
How do you unwind or reset when you’re not working?
“I live where I work, and we have a little cabin up north where I like to go and get away. I like to go hiking and be outside.”
