Community Opportunity Center Nonprofit Housing Corporation is proud to celebrate 60 years of serving individuals with developmental disabilities in Livonia and surrounding suburbs.

In 1965, the first organizational meeting was sponsored by A.A.U.W., Plymouth Jaycees under Wendell Smith, as well as local parent groups interested in vocational solutions for their adult children with disabilities. Out of this meeting Community Opportunity Center was established.

In July 1965, the Livonia Board of Education approved the use of Newburgh School to house a vocational program. The following January, with assembly contracts from local businesses, the vocational program was launched, employing 13 individuals with disabilities performing assembly work, with assistance from three job coaches.

After several years operating as a vocational program, Community Opportunity Center (COC) changed its focus to housing services for people with developmental disabilities. Under the direction of the Board of Directors, including one of its founding members, Judge James Mies of Livonia, COC opened its first home, Plymouth Opportunity House in downtown Plymouth in 1975.

Upon opening, the home served 16 people with developmental disabilities – this home still operates today. In 1980, COC went on to open Livonia Opportunity House, which also served 16 people with developmental disabilities. Denise King became the live-in home manager. She held the live-in manager position at Livonia House for 10 years, living in an apartment attached to the home with her husband and two children.

Denise went on to assume the role of executive director for 30 years, retiring in December of 2019. During her tenure, other homes were established, including Redford Opportunity House in 1983, Garden City Opportunity Manor in 1986, Balmoral House in 1988, Milburn House in 1989 and Curtis House in 1998.

Beginning in 2004 and subsequent years, COC continued to establish additional two-, three- and four-person home and apartment sites within Livonia and Plymouth.

Currently COC continues to provide wraparound housing services to 75 people in 15 home locations. Most of our home locations are staffed with 24-hour care, while a minority of home sites receive part-time staffing services. We assist those we serve with community integration, transportation, daily living and leisure activities, personal care and money management.

These services flow from our mission, which is to provide quality housing and individualized support services to people with developmental disabilities to assist them in living fulfilled lives.

We are always looking for caring, compassionate people to join our team. We offer comprehensive training, a competitive starting wage, flexible work schedules, paid time off, earned sick time, 401K, dental and health insurance benefits. If you are interested in making a difference, working to support and advance vital housing services for people with disabilities, contact Andrea Bey at abey@cochomes.net.