Opening doors and warming hearts

Mike Bomberger, 53, feels he could play an integral role in improving housing opportunities for individuals with special needs in Lancaster County.

He aspires to be a liaison between those who need low-income housing and those who provide low-income housing, to better expose and explain the availability of funding for individuals through Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities.

“The paperwork can be stressful,” Mike says, so his experience in getting through it may help prevent individuals and landlords from becoming overwhelmed by it.

“I’ve spent a lot of time knitting my own safety net,” he adds, and with that comes insight he is willing to share with deed holders who are private owners.

His hometown is Lancaster but Mike has lived in India, conducting volunteer work and attended high school in Danbury, CT, and St. Louis, MO. He returned to his hometown of Lancaster, where he plans to continue his remaining years.

Mike is on the spectrum. He is a participant with the Adult Community Autism Program (ACAP), as well as the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

He serves on ODP’s Information Sharing and Advisory Committee and is a member of Lancaster Friends Quaker Meeting.

Outside of advocacy, he enjoys caring for plants. “They have life, but they don’t have confusing spirits and souls.”

He wants people to know that folks with ASD are not scary, and that he has skills he wishes to share to better society.