History
L’Arche (French for “the Ark”) began in 1964, when Jean Vanier became aware of the struggle of thousands of people with intellectual disabilities who were institutionalized in France.
Inspired by Roman Catholic social teaching and guided by his friend and mentor Father Thomas Philippe, Jean invited three men with intellectual disabilities to share a small home with him in Trosly-Breuil, France. Having met them in an institution, Jean hoped that providing a secure and loving home would have a significant impact on the lives of these men. He soon learned that sharing daily life together had a significant impact on each of them – including him.
Jean discovered in himself what he came to describe as “disabilities of the heart.” He recognized them as far more disabling than disabilities of the mind or body. Disabilities of the heart separate the person from the person’s inner humanity created in “the image of God” -- and from God. Speaking from this experience, he often says, “People come to L’Arche to help the poor. People remain in L’Arche only if they discover they are the poor.”
From that one home, L’Arche became a federation of more than 135 member communities, established as independent entities in thirty-six countries on six continents. The communities include more than 5,000 people with and without an intellectual disability, who share their lives in homes, workshops and day programs. Within L’Arche USA, there are sixteen independent communities in fourteen states, including L’Arche Greater Washington, DC.
L’Arche Greater Washington, DC, opened in 1983, offering a home to people being discharged from Forest Haven, Washington, DC’s notorious institution for people with intellectual disabilities. Since then, L’Arche has provided safe housing, compassionate support services, and the opportunity for people with intellectual disabilities (core people) to integrate into neighborhood life. The core people who live in L’Arche homes are low-income residents of the Washington, DC, area from a variety of cultural and religious backgrounds. There are two L’Arche homes in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, DC. There is one home in the Arlington Heights neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia, with a second opening there in 2010.
Inspired by Roman Catholic social teaching and guided by his friend and mentor Father Thomas Philippe, Jean invited three men with intellectual disabilities to share a small home with him in Trosly-Breuil, France. Having met them in an institution, Jean hoped that providing a secure and loving home would have a significant impact on the lives of these men. He soon learned that sharing daily life together had a significant impact on each of them – including him.
Jean discovered in himself what he came to describe as “disabilities of the heart.” He recognized them as far more disabling than disabilities of the mind or body. Disabilities of the heart separate the person from the person’s inner humanity created in “the image of God” -- and from God. Speaking from this experience, he often says, “People come to L’Arche to help the poor. People remain in L’Arche only if they discover they are the poor.”
From that one home, L’Arche became a federation of more than 135 member communities, established as independent entities in thirty-six countries on six continents. The communities include more than 5,000 people with and without an intellectual disability, who share their lives in homes, workshops and day programs. Within L’Arche USA, there are sixteen independent communities in fourteen states, including L’Arche Greater Washington, DC.
L’Arche Greater Washington, DC, opened in 1983, offering a home to people being discharged from Forest Haven, Washington, DC’s notorious institution for people with intellectual disabilities. Since then, L’Arche has provided safe housing, compassionate support services, and the opportunity for people with intellectual disabilities (core people) to integrate into neighborhood life. The core people who live in L’Arche homes are low-income residents of the Washington, DC, area from a variety of cultural and religious backgrounds. There are two L’Arche homes in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, DC. There is one home in the Arlington Heights neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia, with a second opening there in 2010.
Next Story