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Community Living,
formerly Spring Acres Group Homes, is a private non-profit agency which was
started in 1969 by a handful of Yakima
parents. These parents wanted as local alternative to having to place their
developmentally disabled children outside of Yakima into a large State operated
institution. Their efforts resulted in the opening of the States first group
home in Naches, which was home to six young women.
In 1979, the board voted to
sell all but one of its existing traditional group homes and implemented
the State's first "pilot program" that served people with
developmental disabilities in their own homes (i.e., apartments,
houses, mobile homes, etc.) located through out the City of Yakima. It was and is the Boards belief
that people with developmental disabilities have the right to live, learn and
work in the community just like everyone else.
Furthermore, it was felt that the corporation would be far more successful in
teaching people to meet most of their own needs, if they could be taught on a
one on one ratio and have the opportunity to use these skills on a regular
basis.
In March 1981, Community Living was asked by King
County's Division of Human Services
to replicate its residential support system for people living in their own
residences in Bellevue, Washington. The Bellevue office opened on April 6, 1981.
Community Living has since received National and International recognition
for this program model. The Kent office was opened in July
1990. and the Sunnyside was opened in September 1990.
Community Living currently serves 121 individuals, of which, 40 reside in
Yakima, 19 reside in Sunnyside, 33 reside in Bellevue and 29 reside in Kent.
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Links:
A message from the Executive Director
Board of Directors
Mission Statement
Our Goals
Services We Provide
Admissions Criteria
Making a Donation
Employment Opportunities
Directions to our Offices
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