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Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Illinois Arc of the Quad Cities Area ground breaking "Building Homes – Welcoming Opportunities," where Disabled can live in communities

Press Release shared by The Arc of the Quad Cities Area

The Arc of the Quad Cities Area4016 9th Street, Rock Island, Illinois

Rock Island, IL – The Arc of the Quad Cities Area is pleased to announce a ground breaking for the first phase of a project it is calling "Building Homes – Welcoming Opportunities," which includes building five new homes where individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities can live inclusively in the community. The first phase of implementation includes three group homes at sites in Rock Island and Moline. The second phase, to be completed next year, will include the final two homes.

The Arc of the Quad Cities Area was pleased to have been awarded $3 million from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, which has allowed The Arc to proceed with construction. However, because these are highly specialized homes adapted for individuals with multiple disabilities, the cost of constructing these homes is much more than a typical family home. For this reason, The Arc has initiated a capital campaign to raise $800,000 – enough to offset costs not covered by this grant in order to construct the fifth home and complete the project.

The Arc of the Quad Cities Area will be transferring residents of Heritage Fifty-Three, licensed as an Intermediate Care Facility for the Developmentally Disabled, into community-based housing with the construction of these homes. The project will keep The Arc and the Quad City Community in-line with long-standing trends toward greater inclusion in community life for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and that begins with accessible community-based housing.

Members of The Arc of the Quad Cities Area Board, its Executive Director Kyle Rick, members of the Quad City Chamber of Commerce, families and staff will be present for a ground breaking at a site of construction representing Phase I of this project to be held at 2017 29th Street in Rock Island, Illinois on Friday, October 17th at 11:00 a.m.

For more information or make a donation to "Building Homes – Welcoming Opportunities," go to www.arcqca.org and click on the welcome mat.

The Arc is on the front line to ensure that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families have the support and housing they need to be fully integrated members of the community. The Arc is the largest national community-based organization advocating for and serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. 

Photo opportunities will be available. The Arc of the Quad Cities Area ground breaking will be held at 2017 29th Street in Rock Island. Take 30th Street to 20th Avenue to 29th Street (directly behind HyVee in Rock Island). The site will be indicated with a large banner.

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