Right from its launch, a palpable excitement surrounded our community's latest endeavour: L'Arche Connects. In partnership with Saint John Non Profit Housing, Inclusion NB and the Department of Social Development, four new core members were able to move into apartments of their own in the summer of 2023 with L'Arche Saint John providing day-to-day support for these members to live independently.
From the moment I stepped into the role of L'Arche Connects Program Leader in September, 2023, I began to hear the question: "Will there be more apartments?" When we launched "L'Arche Connects Outreach"—a near-weekly program for exploration and support for adults with disabilities who were still living with family—the interest in supported independent living and a desire for housing solutions for these young people quickly emerged as a common theme.
These folks longed to have a place of their own like their peers and siblings, while their parents and grandparents were genuinely concerned about what would happen when they were no longer able to provide care to their loved ones. Many saw L'Arche's supported independent living model as a hopeful solution. People appreciated L'Arche Saint John's twin priorities of high-quality support coupled with an exceptional commitment to community-building.
To my joy, I was recently able to reach out to our Outreach families, friends of L'Arche Saint John, and other community partners to share the wonderful news that we are preparing to support up to ten new core members in supported independent living arrangements in two new building projects in the city!
I sent out an initial email late Monday evening, detailing the application process, and within minutes started to receive enthusiastic, heart-warming responses. I spoke to one family on the phone and there was a gasp of joy when I shared the news.
Over the next couple of months we will be reviewing applications, conducting interviews and discerning who to invite to join us as new core members. It's a bittersweet process as we know that as much as we are eager to celebrate this growth in our community, it simply won't be possible to welcome everyone who applies. It's a very important responsibility to discern well, and to this end we have called together a team of wise and caring community members to carefully consider each application.
Both building projects are aiming to open their doors in the Fall of 2025. It's an exciting time to be on the precipice of growth. I know that having an affordable apartment of one's own will be life-changing for many people.
I think all of us at L'Arche Saint John feel delighted to be a part of this journey and look forward to welcoming the gift that each new member will surely be to our community.
Jennifer Morrill Fabrizi
L'Arche Connects Program Leader
If you would like to learn more about the new building projects or to apply to become a new core member with the L'Arche Connects supported independent living program, please email connects@larchesaintjohn.org.