History
When it was incorporated more than 30 years ago, Community Residences was at the forefront of a movement to change the institutionalization of individuals suffering from mental illnesses and/or intellectual disabilities. People diagnosed with mental illnesses were often involuntarily sent to be housed in public institutions, as were people with what was then called mental retardation. Resources did not exist to care for these individuals apart from an institutional setting, and yet institutionalization removed and isolated people from the familiarity and support of homes, family and friends.
Institutionalization began to be challenged in the 1960s and 70s as our understanding of mental illness and intellectual disability grew. Thoughtful people began to envision different models of care, models that would enable challenged individuals to remain in home settings and which utilized socialization and community integration as treatment methods that would stimulate growth towards independence, wholeness and happiness.
In the context of this background, Arlington area residents, church groups and government leaders came together in 1975 to brainstorm a way to meet the urgent need to allow adults with disabilities to reach their highest potential within their home communities. This group became known as the “Ad-Hoc Committee on Group Homes” and served under the auspices of the Arlington Mental Health and Mental Retardation Community Services Board. It in turn recommended the formation of a new non-profit agency to centralize management of and expand residential programs and home-based services in Arlington. The Arlington County Board approved funding and in October 1975, Arlington Community Residences was incorporated. The new agency became the first in the area to offer comprehensive, community-based residential services as a viable alternative to institutionalization.
Community Residences was thus founded as “Arlington Community Residences, Inc.” for the purpose of providing community-based residential services for individuals with mental disabilities. As the need for a variety of comprehensive disability services grew, the organization expanded and began to serve communities and households outside of Arlington. This natural expansion led to the current name: “Community Residences, Inc.” Over the course of its existence, Community Residences has continued to serve those living with disabilities by expanding both the reach and the depth of its work, developing new and innovative services, including home-based case management for people living with their families or on their own, and supportive counseling for people who are homeless. Constant throughout has been Community Residences’ response to growing knowledge and need.
In its 30+ years of active history, thousands of citizens have been served throughout Northern Virginia, Maryland and the City of Richmond. Each unique individual we work with receives specialized care in a nurturing environment that enables her or him to live as independently and with as high a quality of life as possible.
Community Residences has thus grown to include a variety of comprehensive services for adults who have a mental illness, an intellectual disability, a physical disability or who are homeless. Throughout this growth and expansion, Community Residences has stayed focused on providing the highest quality service for the individuals whom it serves.
Institutionalization began to be challenged in the 1960s and 70s as our understanding of mental illness and intellectual disability grew. Thoughtful people began to envision different models of care, models that would enable challenged individuals to remain in home settings and which utilized socialization and community integration as treatment methods that would stimulate growth towards independence, wholeness and happiness.
In the context of this background, Arlington area residents, church groups and government leaders came together in 1975 to brainstorm a way to meet the urgent need to allow adults with disabilities to reach their highest potential within their home communities. This group became known as the “Ad-Hoc Committee on Group Homes” and served under the auspices of the Arlington Mental Health and Mental Retardation Community Services Board. It in turn recommended the formation of a new non-profit agency to centralize management of and expand residential programs and home-based services in Arlington. The Arlington County Board approved funding and in October 1975, Arlington Community Residences was incorporated. The new agency became the first in the area to offer comprehensive, community-based residential services as a viable alternative to institutionalization.
Community Residences was thus founded as “Arlington Community Residences, Inc.” for the purpose of providing community-based residential services for individuals with mental disabilities. As the need for a variety of comprehensive disability services grew, the organization expanded and began to serve communities and households outside of Arlington. This natural expansion led to the current name: “Community Residences, Inc.” Over the course of its existence, Community Residences has continued to serve those living with disabilities by expanding both the reach and the depth of its work, developing new and innovative services, including home-based case management for people living with their families or on their own, and supportive counseling for people who are homeless. Constant throughout has been Community Residences’ response to growing knowledge and need.
In its 30+ years of active history, thousands of citizens have been served throughout Northern Virginia, Maryland and the City of Richmond. Each unique individual we work with receives specialized care in a nurturing environment that enables her or him to live as independently and with as high a quality of life as possible.
Community Residences has thus grown to include a variety of comprehensive services for adults who have a mental illness, an intellectual disability, a physical disability or who are homeless. Throughout this growth and expansion, Community Residences has stayed focused on providing the highest quality service for the individuals whom it serves.