WHITTIER, Calif. – A nonprofit in Whittier serving disabled adults received support recently from Small Business Development Corporation of Orange County, allowing the organization a first house purchase and a subsequent expansion of its offerings.
CAPC, Inc., or CAPitalizing on Capabilities, is a 501(c)3 now in its 42nd year. It began offering services for disabled adults in 1984 as an outgrowth of the Whittier Union High School District’s and Whittier Area Cooperative’s Special Education Program. The community-based program is designed for adults who exit school district special education programs. CAPC currently employs 92 people and serves more than 100 clients annually who arrive primarily from Greater Whittier and North Orange County areas.
“This purchase represents an expansion of CAPC’s ability to provide stable housing for adults with disabilities.”
“Our services are deeply rooted in these communities, ensuring that adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities receive the support they need to live, work, and thrive,” said CAPC Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Shauna Steele.
The organization, which operates a central office in Whittier, offers supported employment, independent living services, and community inclusion initiatives. It purchased its house in December 2024, representing a significant milestone. The transaction was supported by a State Small Business Credit Initiative loan guarantee administered by Small Business Development Corporation of Orange County (SBDC-OC) in Santa Ana. CAPC covered $170,000 in escrow and closing fees, while the credit initiative supported the remaining $610,000 loan for the property.
“This purchase represents an expansion of CAPC’s ability to provide stable housing for adults with disabilities, furthering our mission to create opportunities for independence and inclusion,” Steele said. “Before acquiring this facility, CAPC operated within leased spaces, adapting our services to the available locations. With this home purchase, we have expanded our ability to offer long-term, person-centered housing solutions for individuals in need.”
SBDC-OC also provided a $2,500 grant to CAPC, enabling the nonprofit to make repairs and updates to the newly purchased home. Improvements include installing a new front door and adding a ramp for ADA accessibility.
“We first met CAPC when we provided a guarantee to support the purchase of their first home providing stable housing to adults with disabilities,” said Jim Ely, SBDC-OC’s president. “After learning what they did and the impact they were having, we decided to do more by providing the grant.
Moving forward, we hope to provide more grants to non-profits that also obtain our loan guarantee support,” he said.
CAPC’s work has been included in several broadcasts including a PBS film titled “Visionaries.” The agency notes on its website, “We pride ourselves on the person-centered aspect of our service models and ensure that the individuals have a say in the services being received and who is providing the services. Daily, we strive to make a difference in the lives of those we service and nurture growth, success, happiness, and independence.”
(Photo: Left to right, Yvonee Connolly, CAPC board member; Moe Ramadan from First Pacific Bank; Natalie Saenz, director of development for CAPC, Inc. On the right Ross Gile, CAPC board member.)
