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 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 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 gained the support of Stonehill College through the grant of two acres of land on their Easton, Massachusetts campus.  Our relationship with Stonehill is a natural fit given their mission of educating the whole person, heart and mind. Stonehill students provide a core of volunteers and the benefits to both the server and the served are immeasurable. We have also been embraced by corporations, foundations, and individuals alike.

In 2009, we opened the doors of the first multi use facility on a college campus, with its primary focus; "respite" for children and families in the United States. 

2011 Major Strategic Goals:

1. Organizational Focus is to continue to refine and develop best practices to meet or exceed expectations of persons served.
2. Financial Focus is to continue to raise needed monies to establish the premier multi- use, campus-based facility in the United States serving individuals with developmental disabilities.
3. Health & Safety Focus is to maintain healthy, safe, and clean environments that support quality services and minimize risk of harm to persons served, personnel, and other stakeholders.
4. Programming Focus is to provide a comprehensive program structure with staffing designed to maximize opportunities for the persons served to obtain and participate in the services provided.
5. Children's Respite Focus is to provide weekend and overnight respite in a facility that is qualified to handle a variety of "special needs".  We will work to establish the premier facility in the state of Massachusetts.