ILA Member Spotlight – Linda Aquino

Linda Aquino has always been drawn to helping others, and opening an Independent Living home of her own seemed like the perfect opportunity to do exactly that. Linda grew up in The Philippines and moved to the United States where she received a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration. This experience showed her that there are many people in need of stable and supportive housing, something that Independent Livings can provide. She and her husband used to volunteer to help the homeless, which also gave them an understanding of the needs of this vulnerable population.

After purchasing the house, Linda wasn’t sure where to start, until she heard about the Independent Living Association. Linda searched for the ILA online, found the website, saw the impressive list of member homes, and knew this was something she wanted to be a part of. She signed up for the Introduction to Independent Living Operations course, and was on her way to becoming an ILA member.

“We want to do it right”, says Linda, recognizing there are some undesirable and poorly maintained Independent Living homes out there. Linda is grateful to have the ILA’s trainings and resources to help her operate a successful home and “give people a decent place to live; a clean environment, a safe place.” She has been enjoying the trainings and says having her home listed on the ILA’s Online Directory has been a huge help in getting residents placed in her home.

In addition to owning and running Agape Independent Living, Linda works full-time in the financial services industry. Both of these jobs keep her very busy, but when she does have free time she likes to read. You can also find her at the Agape home talking to the residents and getting to know them, something she greatly enjoys.