WNY Independent Living

What WNY Independent Living does

WNY Independent Living (legal name: Western New York Independent Living, Inc.; DBA: WNYIL) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1980 and headquartered at 3108 Main Street, Buffalo, NY. It operates as a family of six agencies — the Independent Living Center of Erie County, Independent Living of the Genesee Region, Independent Living of Niagara County, Mental Health Peer Connection, Niagara Frontier Radio Reading Service, and Parent to Parent of NYS — that deliver community-based services to people with disabilities across Western New York's Erie, Niagara, Genesee, Wyoming, and Orleans Counties, with a 2026 expansion into Jamestown (Chautauqua County) and Northwestern Pennsylvania.

The organization delivers the five federally mandated core Independent Living services (Peer Counseling, Independent Living Skills, Transition, Advocacy, Information & Referral) alongside specialized programs including HCBS and CORE behavioral health supports, Health Homes Care Coordination, the Renewal Center peer-run crisis diversion, Addict 2 Addict/Family 2 Family recovery peer support, Taking Control self-directed home care (CDPAP facilitator, Veteran Directed Care, EISEP), Youth Services and Pre-ETS, Employment Support (Ticket to Work, SWTCIE), Olmstead Housing Subsidy and Rapid Rehousing, Independence Express transportation, NY Connects resource linkage, and Loan Closets for durable medical equipment. Services are delivered in-person, by phone, or via Microsoft Office Forms; there is no proprietary technology platform and no public AI capabilities.

WNYIL is funded primarily through government contracts with Medicaid (including Health Homes and CDPAP facilitator), the NY State Offices of Mental Health (OMH), Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), and People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), plus federal grants and tax-deductible donations. The only disclosed fee-for-service revenue is Independence Express transportation at $20 per trip plus $0.50 per mile. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors and an eight-person C-suite led by CEO Stephanie Orlando (effective July 1, 2025), with a workforce in the 1,001–5,000 range.

Name

WNY Independent Living

Legal name

Western New York Independent Living, Inc.

Website

https://wnyil.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

WNY Independent Living is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit family of six agencies founded in 1980 that delivers community-based disability services — including peer support, housing, employment, behavioral health, and self-directed home care — across Western New York.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Buffalo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Contracts and Grants: WNYIL receives funding through government contracts including Medicaid (through Health Homes, CDPAP facilitator services), New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), and federal grants. These form the primary revenue base for operations.
2. Donations and Contributions: As a registered 501(c)(3) organization, WNYIL accepts tax-deductible donations to provide unrestricted funding for programs and services supporting consumers.
3. Fee-for-Service Transportation: Transportation services are provided on a fee-for-service basis at $20 each way plus $0.50 per mile for the Independence Express program, which is described as much less expensive than private door-to-door wheelchair transportation providers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

WNY Independent Living is a non-profit family of six agencies that delivers peer-directed community-based services and programs to individuals with disabilities in Western New York. Core offerings include the five federally mandated Independent Living Center services (peer counseling, independent living skills training, transition, advocacy, and information & referral) plus specialized programs such as self-directed home care (CDPAP), mental health and substance use recovery peer support, housing subsidies, employment support, accessible transportation, and youth transition services.

Product overview

WNY Independent Living is a family of six nonprofit agencies providing community-based services for people with disabilities in Western New York. It operates as a collection of regional Independent Living Centers (ILCs) — Independent Living Center of Erie County, Independent Living of the Genesee Region, and Independent Living of Niagara County — offering the five federally mandated core services: Peer Counseling, Independent Living Skills, Transition Services, Advocacy, and Information & Referral. These are delivered alongside specialized programs including the Mental Health Peer Connection (trauma-informed behavioral health peer support), Addict 2 Addict/Family 2 Family (substance use recovery peer support), the Renewal Center (peer-run crisis diversion), and Taking Control (self-directed home care via CDPAP, Veteran Directed Care, and EISEP). Cross-cutting services span housing assistance (Olmstead Housing Subsidy, Rapid Rehousing), Health Homes Care Coordination, Community-Based Behavioral Health Supports (HCBS/CORE), Youth Services (including Pre-ETS and Youth Peer Advocacy), Employment Support (Ticket to Work, SWTCIE), Independence Express (transportation), NY Connects (resource linkage), and Loan Closets (durable medical equipment). Specialized affiliates include the Niagara Frontier Radio Reading Service and Parent to Parent of NYS. All services are free or low-cost to consumers and are grounded in the independent living philosophy of consumer choice and peer-driven support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Taking Control: Consumer/Veteran Directed Home Care program offering self-directed home care services including CDPAP, Veteran Directed Care, and EISEP
• Independence Express
• Renewal Center
• Addict 2 Addict, Family 2 Family (A2A, F2F)

Products and services

• Advocacy Educational advocacy for students with disabilities navigating the school system; individual advocacy and legal assistance in accessing benefits, services, and programs; system-level advocacy with elected officials; and a Youth Peer Advocacy Program for young people ages 14-28.
• Aged, Blind & Disabled Facilitated Enrollment Program Free, personalized assistance to individuals aged 65+ or certified as blind/disabled to apply for Medicaid benefits, including Medicare Application Assistance (ME) for Medicaid-enrolled individuals. Staff meet consumers in office, home, or community settings.
• Community-Based Behavioral Health Supports (HCBS) Home and Community Based Services including Prevocational Services and Habilitation Services for individuals with mental health and/or substance use disorders. Includes CORE (Community Oriented Recovery and Empowerment) services: CPST, PSR, Family Support and Training, and Empowerment Peer Supports across five counties.
• Employment Support Job skills training, job placement assistance, and job coaching for people with disabilities. Includes the Ticket to Work program, Work Support Job Club through Mental Health Peer Connection, and the SWTCIE (Subminimum Wage to Competitive Integrated Employment) program in Erie County.
• Housing Assistance Housing information, advice, and assistance including Olmstead Housing Subsidy (rental subsidy for nursing home transitions), Rapid Rehousing Transition Program (RTHP) for high-need Medicaid beneficiaries, and Pathstone Rapid Rehousing across five counties.
• Independent Living Centers Community-based, cross-disability, non-profit organizations designed and operated by people with disabilities, delivering the five mandated core services: Peer Counseling, Independent Living Skills, Transitioning, Community/Individual Advocacy, and Information & Referral. Three regional ILCs serve Erie, Genesee, and Niagara Counties.
• Independence Express WNYIL's transportation program offering rides for people with disabilities in Erie, Niagara, Wyoming, Genesee, and Orleans Counties. Fee-for-service transportation at $20 each way plus $0.50 per mile, plus Medicaid Transportation and Family Support Services Bus and Van Programs using wheelchair-accessible vans and minivans.
• Information & Referrals Benefits advisement, budgeting and financial literacy, independent living skills training, life coaching, person-centered plans, transportation training, recreational services, architectural barrier consultations, communication services (interpreter, Braille, reading), and family services available at all WNYIL locations.
• Loan Closets Free loan of gently used medical equipment including wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches, shower benches, raised toilet seats, portable ramps, and more. Items loaned for 90 days with possible extension at Erie County, Genesee Region, and Niagara County locations.
• Nursing Home/Hospital Transition Transition services assisting consumers moving from institutional settings (nursing homes, hospitals, psychiatric centers) back to the community. Open Doors program provides transition specialists; Adult Transitional Services connects consumers to CDPAP, Waiver Services, MLTC, and Department of Social Services.
• NY Connects Resource offering accurate, impartial information about long-term services and supports in New York State for individuals of all ages and disabilities, operated through Independent Living Centers combined with local Senior Services/Offices of the Aging. Contact: 1-800-342-9871.
• Peer Support Mutual support and socialization between persons with disabilities, including Independent Living Specialists, Mental Health Peer Connection (MHPC), Addict 2 Addict/Family 2 Family (A2A, F2F) substance use recovery peer support, and Family Peer Support Services.
• Recovery Supports Recovery-oriented programs including Mental Health Peer Connection (trauma-informed peer support), A2A/F2F (peer-led team for substance use disorders), and the Renewal Center (peer-run hospital diversion for mental health crises).
• Renewal Center (Kirsten A. Vincent Respite & Recovery Center) Peer-run hospital diversion program operating daily from 1 pm to 9:30 pm offering support for individuals experiencing or approaching a mental health crisis, including peer support, professional nursing assistance, connections to medical and non-medical services, and wellness tools. Located at 111 Maple St., Buffalo. Free to those 18 and over.
• Youth Services Services for youth ages 14-30 including Youth Transition Services, Youth Peer Advocacy Program/Young Peers (peer support by young adults with disabilities), and Pre-ETS (Pre-Employment Transition Services) for students with disabilities ages 14-21 covering job exploration, work-based learning, and workplace readiness training.
• Taking Control: Consumer/Veteran Directed Home Care Self-directed home care programs including CDPAP (Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program) Facilitator Services, Veteran Directed Care, and Extended In-Home Services for the Elderly (EISEP). Empowers individuals to choose, train, and supervise their own personal assistants, in partnership with Public Partnerships LLC (PPL) as statewide fiscal intermediary.
• Health Homes Care Coordination Services Care coordination through Health Homes networks for Medicaid-enrolled individuals with two or more chronic conditions, HIV/AIDS, or serious mental illness. Includes comprehensive care management, transitional care, health promotion, and referral to community supports in Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Batavia.
• Niagara Frontier Radio Reading Service (NFRRS) Provides 24/7 free audio access to local and national print publications for blind residents and those who find reading challenging across Western New York and Southern Ontario.
• Parent to Parent of NYS Statewide nonprofit connecting families of individuals with special needs to resources, support, and one-on-one peer connections, with multiple offices throughout New York State.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6 round trips per month provided free to OPWDD-eligible individuals through Family Support Services transportation
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Public Partnerships LLC (PPL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPPL is the statewide fiscal intermediary for the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP). WNYIL's Taking Control Self-Directed Home Care Program is an approved CDPAP facilitator in partnership with PPL, which handles payroll and administrative functions for the program.
• Southwestern Independent Living CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWNYIL works in tandem with its sister Center for Independent Living, Southwestern Independent Living Center, in supporting individuals and strengthening independent living services throughout the Southern Tier region.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Southwestern Independent Living Center:

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/WNYILinc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/WNYIL
• Facebookfacebook.com/WNYIL
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wnyil
• Instagraminstagram.com/wnyil

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WNY Independent Living