At L’Arche Portland, people with and without intellectual disabilities (IDD) are transformed by working together to create home, share life, and build community. We give and receive compassionate care and friendship as a community that fosters a deeper experience of being human. We welcome people of all backgrounds and spiritual journeys to find connection and belonging.
People with disabilities experience disproportionately high rates of discrimination, poverty, poor mental and physical health outcomes, and marginalization. Our society does not recognize one of the most important needs of all – the need to belong. Belonging is a need felt by all people, but it is often neglected for people with intellectual disabilities. L’Arche Portland addresses this common need for belonging and the isolation and loneliness that people with intellectual disabilities face through our intentional model of fostering mutual relationships.
We have two homes and regular gatherings that provide people with and without intellectual disabilities opportunities to discover and build relationships across differences. L’Arche Portland cultivates an extended community of friends, volunteers, and supporters in Oregon, as well as across the country and world. L’Arche Portland is part of an international movement of 160 communities in 37 countries around the world.
Our vision of disability is based on the simple, powerful idea that love, relationships, and belonging are essential to all people and that every person has the ability and responsibility to contribute. Marilyn, one of our community members with a disability, may have summed it up best when she described L’Arche Portland as “a place where they want you.” We are creating, day by day, a place of belonging, a place where people—with or without disabilities—feel welcomed, valued and loved.
Openings in our homes-
Gabriel House Members:
Gabriel House members live in our newest home in Beaverton, Oregon. In this home, adults with and without intellectual disabilities build community together, but do not have a paid caregiving relationship with each other. All are encouraged to pursue activities beyond the home, including employment, school, and community engagement. Those who need support with activities of daily living contract with support workers on an hourly basis. House members pay a monthly Program & Residential fee, which varies according to bedroom size and shared/private bathroom.
Gabriel House Leader:
We are seeking a live-in house leader to help with activity planning within the home and bridging community across our two homes. This live-in role asks for 6-8 hours per week dedicated on L’Arche community building and holds the following responsibilities.
To Apply:
Please contact us at ap***@*************nd.org to learn more and request an application to Share Life in Our Homes.
People with and without intellectual disabilities sharing life together.
At L’Arche, people with and without intellectual disabilities share life, create home, and build relationships with one another.
We do this in many ways, and we are currently seeking Gabriel House Members.
To learn more about the Gabriel House member role, see our above Community Description.
You can also learn more and request an application by completing an online inquiry form here: https://www.larche-portland.org/live-with-us
If you would like to explore living at L’Arche Portland, please email us at ap***@*************nd.org.
If you would like to attend an event, you can learn about upcoming events on our Events page: https://www.larche-portland.org/events
If you would like to visit our community in some other way, please email us at in**@*************nd.org
One person or partnership has ultimate authority.
Generally seek agreement, but have backup methods when consensus isn’t reached.
Power and responsibility are shared relatively equally among members.
Members maintain separate personal finances with minimal sharing.
Regular fees: Yes
Labor: Encouraged or suggested
Members with pre-existing debt: allowed
Common House, Garden(s), Fire pit, Internet
Within city limits with access to urban amenities and infrastructure.
Shared living spaces with private bedrooms/bathrooms and communal
kitchens, dining, and social areas.
Residential communities focused on providing space for meditation, spiritual practice, and personal growth retreats.
A residential project: people live here as their primary home.
An institution, business, network, or project that isn’t a residence (e.g. a learning center, farm, or network with no one living there full-time).
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