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In 2013 the founders of A House for ME began their investigation into housing options for their daughter, who was then 34 years old and has a chromosome-based Intellectual Disability that requires support in her daily life. Expecting that State programs were available, as was promised by the Consent Decrees when Pineland was closed in the 1990s, you can imagine their surprise when they were confronted with a waiting list of nearly 800 people. A list that less than 20 typically came off in any given year. That list more than doubled over the next three years.
In 2016, A House for ME was incorporated and achieved 501(c)(3) status – a vision of a new way to support people with intellectual disabilities so they could live safely and successfully in their communities. The most recent figures we have from DHHS show the list at over 1700 people and growing. Nearly 250 of these people who are waiting are right here in York County. We also know that just in "our little corner of the World" -- Kittery, Eliot, and York, there are 30 people waiting on this endless list. If we add in the Berwicks, it approaches 50. The need is real!
The mission of A House for ME is “to create safe, supported living situations that enable people with disabilities to fully integrate themselves into their local community”. And we have done just that with this exciting new model. We currently support two women in a leased home in Kittery. A “Resident Companion” lives in the home with them to provide the supports they need to be safe and successful in the community. We are not a “provider agency” in the typical sense. Rather, we help people who need a little extra help share a home. Families remain involved as do their case managers through which they access any other services.
We have no salaries, as we are a 100% volunteer organization, a group of people dedicated to improving the lives of our friends and family members with disabilities. I will add that while we have no affiliation with the Special Olympics, many of us have been involved with Special Olympics for over 30 years. Our Board Chair served two terms on their Board of Directors, and our director has been the Manager (volunteer position) of the York County program since the early 1990s.
We are grateful for donations and are always happy to speak with families who are searching for options with supportive living for their family members with developmental disabilities.
You can reach A House for ME via an online form on their website or email ahouseforme@comcast.net. You can also call them at 207-451-7469.
Follow them on Facebook for exciting updates!
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