The House of Possibilities, Inc. (HOPe) is an offspring of the Volunteer Information Agency, Inc. (VIA). VIA originated in Milton, Massachusetts and had been providing emergency financial support to the families of special needs children for over 35 years. The support had been typically a one time, specific problems that was alleviated by the financial support of VIA.
A member of the board of VIA, Paula Kavolius, who has a special needs child, recognized the recurring problem of a critical shortage of quality respite at an "in-house" program" for families in need. Caring for a special child is 24/7 physically and emotionally exhausting job. As time went on, we realized that we were always helping people in crisis and our help although significant was just a temporary patch in their hectic lives. We were fixing potholes, not the road. Additionally, we recognized the need for a high quality adult program that would allow individuals to continue to learn after high school and become as independent as possible.
Thus began the expanded mission of HOPe in 2003 to build a facility to provide sustained relief from the round the clock care of a significantly challenged child, youth or young adult. Quality programming is the key to our mission. Families need to know that they are not alone and someone out there does care and not in just words.
We have gained the support of Stonehill College through the grant of two acres of land on their Easton Massachusetts campus and have built the first model of its kind in the United States. Our relationship with Stonehill is a natural fit given their mission of educating the whole person heart and mind. Stonehill students will provide a much needed core of volunteers and the benefits to both the server and the served will be immeasurable. We have also been embraced by corporations, foundations, and individuals alike.