Changing the lives of people whose lives have been changed by brain injury and cognitive/neurological disorders.

Old Farm Rockport (OFR) is a new independent affordable housing facility for survivors of brain injury slated to open in 2013. Located in Rockport, Mass., OFR is the planned adaptive renovation of the Old Farm Inn at Halibut Point into two homes for adult survivors of brain injury and cognitive/neurological disorders. The project will include renovating the main house into a four-bedroom handicap accessible home, and the adjacent barn into four universally accessible apartments.

The property is being transformed in a collaborative effort led by Old Farm Rockport, a non-profit organization formed by a group of North Shore families and friends of individuals who have been touched by the catastrophic effects of a brain injury and cognitive/neurological disorders. In addition to Old Farm Rockport, Supportive Living, Inc., an award-winning developer of independent housing for brain injury survivors, and Advocates, Inc., a provider of health care services for adults with multiple disabilities, are providing their unique abilities in this effort.

To date, the Old Farm Rockport Capital Campaign reached its goal of raising $2.5 million in public and private donations. A portion of the money OFR has received is from major grants awarded from the Department of Housing and Community Development, Federal Home Loan Bank and Rockport Community Preservation Committee.

Along with providing housing solutions for the eight individuals, local contractors will also be hired for property maintenance and landscaping and 25 new jobs will be created for supportive and personal care of the residents. Several community partnerships have already been formed with local schools, churches and athletic clubs.

*All Old Farm Rockport renderings were designed by Zelloe+Weaver Architects of Beverly, Mass.