Eight years, three kids, ten residents, and one very full calendar. Meet Maribeth McTernan, program manager in one of our Newton houses, who shares what makes her house so lively, why she’s an evangelist for adult rec soccer, and how the residents have been part of her family’s life since before her first child was born.
Read MoreThey say families come in all shapes and sizes, and at Specialized Housing we believe that notion to be especially true of the familial bonds that form within our homes. In a few special circumstances, our live-in staff have expanded their built-in SHI families by having children, who quickly came to be beloved and cherished members of the house.
Read MoreThe members of the Newton Houses Book Club have been meeting on weekend afternoons in the spacious and homey living room of one of the houses, books and guided questions in hand.
Read MoreWe’re excited to welcome Ibrahim Jabir to the Specialized Housing community as a new live-in staff member. In this interview, Ibrahim shares what drew him to Specialized Housing, what a typical day in the house looks like, and what inspires him most about supporting residents in their daily lives. From building meaningful connections to sharing his love of soccer, get to know Ibrahim and the energy he brings to our homes.
Read MoreDo you like to cook? It seems like such a simple question. Yet it’s one with nuanced answers—and for our housing community, it’s one of the most important questions we ask applicants during the interview process. Cooking and food are essential ingredients to our success as a community (pun intended).
Read MoreWe were visiting one of our Brookline houses recently when one house member, Mike Natale, shared that he had won an award for his poetry at his job, Gateway Arts.
Read MoreIt probably comes as no surprise that Sarra, a program manager in Maine, is the winner of the coveted Gold Bond Hand Cream Award yet again!
Read MoreMeet Kathy Amaral, a loving mom, proud grandma, talented singer, dedicated SHI staff member, and a truly radiant soul. We recently had the pleasure of checking in with Kathy to hear about her incredible life, the unique path that brought her to our team, and her inspiring perspective on working with house members throughout our community.
Read MoreWe couldn’t be prouder of Ian McKay, one of Specialized Housing’s house members from South Portland, Maine. This past July, Ian took on his biggest swim yet—a 15-mile open-water challenge at Lake Memphremagog in Vermont.
Read MoreOur house communities are shaped by the routines and habits of our members, creating unique cultures within each home. During a recent tour of our Brookline house, program manager Alexae Connor shared a story that captures this well—she mentioned the “News Crew.”
Read MoreMargie was a cherished member of our SHI community for over 26 years. It's difficult to pick just a few memories because there are so many. But perhaps the best way to remember her is by reflecting on the wonderful person she was.
Read MoreWe’re excited to introduce you to Lauren Garrett, the program manager at Specialized Housing’s very first house, whose passion for working with people with disabilities began with a personal connection.
Read MoreIf you’re part of Specialized Housing, you’ve probably crossed paths with Steve at some point. Steve helps with solving some challenging routine and urgent maintenance problems, and does it all with a smile, which is why we’ve been wanting to highlight Steve and his positive effect on our community.
Read MoreDavid and Margot are the co-founders of Specialized Housing, and I recently met with them to take a look back on the last 40 years and reflect on the experiences and events that made SHI the unique, tight-knit community it is today.
Read MoreWe thought it would be inspiring to highlight some of the neighborhood routines that help define our communities. Since 2017, a group of Brookline SHI house members has been going to Pino’s Pizza on Saturdays. They are well known by staff and other regular patrons.
Read MoreHaving reached this significant milestone, we are excited to celebrate our long-term success with all of our current families, staff, and house members. Meet Adam, who represents a new generation of SHI house members in our established Brookline communities.
Read MoreMost people, if they have the choice, would prefer to have a day off from their jobs on holidays or during their summer breaks. But Sarah and Richie, who both live in one of our Brookline communities and have jobs during the week, often volunteer on holidays and their days off.
Read MoreWe were fortunate that three women in the Specialized Housing community recently took the time to share their perspectives and shed some light on the unique and very special relationships they share with their siblings.
Read MoreWe thought it would be nice to introduce some of the newer house members who have joined our community over the past year or so. They are all great examples of how adults with disabilities can live rich, full, and independent lives while receiving support that meets their specific needs. Melanie moved into one of our Brookline homes in October of 2021. We recently stopped by her house to check in and see how she’s been doing since then.
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