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.
Thus began the expanded mission of HOPe in 2003 to build a respite home to provide sustained relief from the round the clock care of a significantly challenged child. Sustained respite is the key to our mission-avoid crisis by giving parents time to breathe and "smell the flowers". Parents and other siblings need time to recharge their batteries, restore their souls, and bring balance back to their lives while their child/sibling is engaged in a meaningful fun activity in their home away from home-HOPe. These 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 to build our home. This will enable us to be the first of its kind respite house to be built on a college campus. 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. We are about to break ground on the House of Hope and expect to open our doors by the Spring of 2009.