L'arche, Inc.

About L'arche, Inc.

Operating Since 1983, L'arche Greater Washington Dc (L'arche) Is A Nonprofit Organization That Creates Home And Family-Like Community With People Who Have Developmental Disabilities And Those Who Assist Them. The People Served By L'arche Are At Risk For Becoming Homeless Or Institutionalized, As They Cannot Live Independently And Are Among The Most Vulnerable Residents Of The Metropolitan Area. L'arche Provides Housing And Individualized Support Services To Thirteen Low-Income People With Developmental Disabilities (The "Core People" Of The Community) In Two, Four-Story Homes In The Adams Morgan Neighborhood Of Washington, Dc And In A Newly Opened Home In Arlington, Virginia. The Organization Will Open A Fourth Home In Arlington During The Winter Of 2007-08. L'arche Also Trains Area Organizations On The Inherent Strengths And Gifts Of People With Developmental Disabilities. The People L'arche Serves Have Developmental Disabilities, Often Accompanied By Physical Disabilities And Sometimes By Mental Health Issues. They Are Among The Most Vulnerable Of Our Citizens. For Three Decades, A Federal Court Has Been Working To Stop The Abuse And Neglect Of The District Of Columbia's Citizens With Developmental Disabilities. The Stories Of Abuse, Neglect And Death In The Hands Of An Indifferent And Overwhelmed System Responsible For More Than 2,000 Adults With Developmental Disabilities Are Horrific. As Noted By The Editorial Page Of The Washington Post, A Federal Court Monitor Reported In Spring 2006 That "The District Government Continues To Give Dangerous, Substandard Care To Some Disabled Residents Of Group Homes And It Has Failed To Provide Full Information About Critical Operations And Some Deaths In The Past Year."Across The Potomac, Northern Virginians With Intellectual Disabilities Are Desperate To Get Off Waiting Lists And Into Permanent Supportive Housing. According To The Arc Of Northern Virginia, Over 3,300 Virginian's With Developmental Disabilities Are Waiting For Housing And Services Through The Medicaid Mental Retardation Waiver. The Waiting List Is Expected To Grow Rapidly As Caregivers Age. Until L'arche Opened Its Newest Home Last Month, Arlington County Had Not Opened A New Group Home In Many Years Due To Limited Funding And High Costs. The Core People Who Live In L'arche Homes Are All Low-Income Residents Of Washington, Dc, Or Northern Virginia And Come From Diverse Backgrounds. They Range In Age From Twenty-Seven To Seventy-Six. All Need Assistance With Activities Of Daily Living Such As Bathing, Dressing, Medication Management, Meal Preparation, And Transportation. Eight Have Physical Conditions That Require Considerable Support. All Have A Medical Diagnosis Of Mental Retardation. Many Have Complicated Health Problems That Require Greater Attention As They Age. In Addition, The Core People That Have Come To L'arche In The Past Two Years Have Greater Support Needs Than Those Who Preceded Them. L'arche Welcomed These Core People As They Were Most At Risk Of Becoming Homeless Or Living In A Large Institution. L'arche Welcomes And Nurtures The Leadership Of Its Core People. Core People Help To Orient New Assistants To Community Living And Participate In Various Committees. They Represent L'arche At Regional, National And International L'arche Gatherings And Help Make Presentations To Professionals In The Disability Field, To Students And To Church Groups. Most Core People Donate And/Or Volunteer With Other Nonprofit Organizations.