Share Life in Our Homes
At L’Arche Portland homes, individuals with and without intellectual disabilities share life together and commit to cooperation, inclusion, and active participation. Housemates share meals, attend house meetings and events, and create an inclusive culture of welcome and hospitality together.
At our two homes in Montavilla, Neahkahnie House and Nehalem House, individuals with and without disabilities share life together as housemates. Paid assistants are individuals who provide direct support to their housemates with disabilities.
Learn more about becoming a live-in assistant here.
Our home in Beaverton, Gabriel House, offers flexibility in living arrangements to meet various needs. This model is different from our other two homes because housemates do not provide professional support to one another. Rather, they live together as housemates and friends with and without intellectual disabilities, who may or may not hire their own professional supports.
Gabriel House has a resident assistant (RA) role that some people may be interested in.
Learn more about our homes and living arrangements and request an application below.
Creating a Culture of Home
There are many intentional practices that go into creating a culture of home, and require the participation of all house members. These include, but are not limited to welcoming new housemates & guests, practicing hospitality, sharing meals, celebrating holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries, and being open to, and supporting, the spiritual practices of one another. Full and meaningful participation by all housemates in the creation of a home’s culture, practices, and activities is an ongoing source of life for our L’Arche homes.
Different Living Arrangements
Every L’Arche home creates a unique culture of sharing life together while being supported to live the values and spirit of L’Arche that is recognizable in all L’Arche homes. That said, there are specific differences in the living arrangements and how life is shared in our homes. L’Arche Portland has three homes across Portland where adults with and without intellectual disabilities share life together.
Montavilla Homes
Our two homes in Montavilla, are both licensed as Adult Foster Care homes in Multnomah County. Everyone pays room and board, and L’Arche Portland provides three meals per day to all house members. Housemates share life, meals, and attend gatherings and retreats together. Individuals with intellectual disabilities who live in our Montavilla Homes receive 24-hour care and support from live-in and live-out assistants.
Live-in and live-out assistants are paid to provide caregiving support to our Montavilla homes. Our assistant position is more than a job, it is also an opportunity to build meaningful and transformative relationships while sharing life in community. Live-In Assistant candidates who wish to live and work within our Montavilla homes should submit an Assistant Application.
Applying for DD Services in Multnomah County: People with intellectual disabilities requiring residential care should call 503-988-6258 to start the process of obtaining a services coordinator.
Beaverton Home
At our home in Beaverton, Gabriel House, adults with and without intellectual disabilities share life together as housemates. Housemates do not provide professional care or direct support to one another. This home is not licensed for residential care (24-hour or adult foster care), although people with intellectual disabilities may receive and hire their own professional ADL supports in the home. All house members pay a monthly program fee and are responsible for their own food. All people who choose to live in the home will make common commitments to living together, including shared meals and events.
The choice by a person with an intellectual disability to live in Gabriel House does not require the person to receive their ADL supports from L’Arche Portland assistants. The choice by a person without an intellectual disability to live in Gabriel House does not require them to be an assistant.
Watch a video interview with Gabriel House housemates to learn more.
Applying for DD Services in Washington County: People with intellectual disabilities who require direct support professionals should call 503-846-4737 for an application. Once the application is completed and returned with the requested information, eligibility for service will be determined.
Our Wider Community
L’Arche homes do not exist in isolation, and in fact rely upon the relationships with a wider circle of friends. This includes the personal friends and family of house members, volunteers and faithful friends of the home, faith communities, friends from L’Arche@ events, support and administration staff, members of other L’Arche Portland homes, members of other L’Arche communities, and more. This circle of friends requires members of our homes to be mindful to invite people into the life of the home, and for all house members to be willing to welcome a larger circle of friends into their home and life.
Request an Application
Applications for people, with and without intellectual disabilities, interested in living in our homes are now available by request.
Please fill out the form below or email live@larche-portland.org to request your application.