Building kinship and connection through group living.
We carefully consider each resident and the overall dynamics of the group to find the best group home for all.
At Heartshare, our goal is to create a comfortable and supportive living environment by matching individuals with similar age groups and compatible profiles. Rather than simply placing someone in a house, we thoughtfully select individuals to become part of an already established home.
Our process balances personal considerations — such as personalities and preferences — with essential state requirements to ensure a well-rounded and compliant placement. Each home has an ecosystem of staff and services built around the needs of the residents. We have homes that care for the non-ambulatory and medically frail. And we have homes where residents are extremely independent, leaving for a job in the morning and returning once their workday is done.
Our group homes support adults ages 21+ along with children ages 5 to 21 with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Many of our older residents were survivors of Willowbrook State School. Other residents have moved into one of our group homes because their families needed additional support. The residents in our group homes are required to have an ICF waiver.
We began as an answer to the atrocities and dehumanization that occurred at Willowbrook State School. Isolation and abuse were facts of life at Willowbrook and other similar institutions. Geraldo Rivera's exposé in the early 1970s illuminated the abuses and opened up the public to the inhumane situation. Tireless work from family members and disability rights advocates allowed for agencies like Heartshare Developmental Disability Services to be created. Our first group home opened in 1977, and we've never stopped creating human homes for this community.
Today, our residences allow individuals to live in a safe home-environment, and become active members of their communities. These homes, while for life, are vibrant and changing. They are not an end point, but vital step toward independence. Our approach focuses on meeting individuals where they are, providing the support they need to achieve their personal goals. By offering tailored care and encouragement, we empower individuals to thrive and fully participate in New York City life.
Heartshare’s group homes are located in typical houses within the community and generally accommodate from 4 to 14 residents, with 6 to 8 residents being the average. Supports and services vary based on the needs of the residents.
Heartshare also accommodates two children's group homes co-located in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, for children ages 5-21 with Autism. These residences, which are adjacent to The Heartshare School, are unique because the continuous exposure to quality education and residential care for students who attend the school and live next door becomes a rich learning environment and strong foundation for growing independence.
Relevant Programs
Group Homes are just one piece of programming we offer to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
