Two Families, One SHI Family

Ben Majewski and his family

Jake Ross with his parents

NEWTON, MA and BROOKLINE, MA: When Ben Majewski talks about home, he talks about family. When Jake Ross takes on something new, he tells his parents, "I've got this." Two people, two Specialized Housing homes, and two families at very different points in the journey.

Ben moved into his SHI home in Newton eight years ago. Jake moved into his in Brookline in November, 2025. We recently asked both families what life with SHI looks like, from the first year to nearly a decade in. Their answers have more in common than you might expect.

The Majewskis: Eight Years and Counting

Ben Majewski is 36, works, volunteers, and has always wanted a home of his own. "Ben continues to be a joy in our lives and happens to have Down syndrome," his parents share.

Before SHI, the family tried a monthly rental model, which they found "more transient and not optimally managed." When they learned SHI was opening a new residence, they were intrigued. Ben moved in when the house opened eight years ago.

For his parents, one thing says it all: Ben calls his house his family, and he means everyone in it, housemates and staff alike. "As you can imagine, any home with 10 residents, plus 2 live-in staff is full of personalities and challenges, but the dynamic works. Ben is thriving," they say.

They credit the SHI model: Families are vetted so everyone can live well together, shared financial investment ties the household together, and the management team understands residents' needs. "More importantly, people care about one another, and that comes from the top down."

Ben's calendar has always been full, and now he often shares it with his housemates. A recent highlight was the annual cornhole tournament hosted by Newton Parks and Recreation and Athletes Unlimited, where residents from Ben's house and another SHI home played side by side with SHI staff. "It was hard to tell who was having more fun," his parents recall.

At home, Ben enjoys cooking and cleaning as part of the house chore routine. "At the end of the day the house belongs to the residents, and they all seem invested in taking care of it." SHI's family meetings and gatherings have also brought Ben and his brother Sam closer together.

The Rosses: A New Chapter in Brookline

The Ross family's road to SHI was a long one. New England natives, they moved to Southwest Florida in the mid-1980s, where Jake was born in 1988. Jake was diagnosed with Fragile X syndrome at an early age, and his parents started planning early for his independence as an adult. That plan included one big goal: bringing their family of three back to greater Boston, close to the support of extended family.

Their search began in summer 2019. Two sources pointed them to SHI: a Boston financial planner who specializes in families with special needs, and two SHI parents recommended by a state agency. Jake was assessed by SHI's clinical director, and then COVID-19 brought everything to a halt. The family restarted their move in fall 2024, and Jake moved into his new SHI home in November 2025.

The changes came faster than anyone expected. "Jake has rapidly demonstrated independent social and living skills that we believed would take far greater time to develop," his parents say. His typically quiet, shy demeanor has opened up, and he now shares his sense of humor and zest for life with his housemates and staff, who have become deeply important to him.

Staff encourage Jake to take on tasks himself, even the hard ones. These days, at visits and family gatherings, his parents often hear a new phrase: "I've got this."

Jake's week is full, too. He attends Chai Works, a day program at Jewish Family & Children's Service in Waltham offering cultural, educational, and volunteer opportunities. He bowls every Monday night in a league sponsored by Yachad of New England, and he joins his SHI housemates at Boston College's Best Buddies program.

What Both Families Share

Eight years apart, these two families landed in the same place. Both describe SHI as the right balance of independence and connection.

For Ben, that means a home in the community where he grew up, near friends, family, and his job. "For us, it is the perfect combination of independence and connection to what's important to him," the Majewskis say.

For the Rosses, it meant learning to let go. "It is impossible for us to imagine how we could have engineered this major life transition for our family without Specialized Housing," they shared. "As parents, we set the stage to create these challenges, but the real skill development happens when we let our children fly from our care. It's our great privilege that SHI is now Jake's nest, his 'forever home,' where he can grow into his finest version of independent living."

Whether new to SHI or several years in, the message is the same. As the Majewskis put it, Ben's house isn't just a family of its own. It's part of a bigger SHI family.