In Process Record

Early in the 21st century, a small town, Sheridan, in Northern Wyoming decides it must change how it cares for its elders and its frail. More retirees are arriv-ing; more people with disabilities and frailties need home care. What might they do? In 2004, community leaders see a glimpse of what their town's future could become. They watch a video that depicts the very first Green House Project model built for elders in Tupelo, Mississippi. Though the challenge of creating these new homes without outside institutional sup-port is daunting, the community forms a task force and they proceed together to develop their vision. Just as they begin to raise the millions of dollars they will need for the project, the economic crisis hits and severely threatens what they might accomplish. Still, in spite of odds, they persist. Producer and Director, Dale Bell, has a unique connection to the community and Green House Project in Sheridan. As a young man in 1955 and 1956, Dale rode the rails and hitch-hiked across the country to work for two summers in Wyoming. He found a home in the Zane Grey country of Sheridan, work-ing on ranches and many other projects. While there, Dale developed a love and respect for the people he met and worked with, and who took him in as he was bounc-ing around from job to job, trying to find a home. Sheridan had always held a special place in his heart, and when he returned in 2004 after finishing filming the revolutionary Green Houses in Tupelo, Mississippi, he knew instantly of a way he could give back to the com-mu-nity that had given him so much as a young man. Dale shared the short video of Tupelo with the com-mu-nity of Sheri-dan, chal-leng-ing them to change the face of elder care. He then committed to document on film the process of community building so that their success could help motivate other communities to do the same... and the Homes on the Range project was born

Title from title frames

Originally produced by Media Policy Center in 2014

Mode of access: World Wide Web

In English