A Place to Call Home
The Elder Family created Through the Roof Community as a response to the alarming shortage of quality spaces for adults with disabilities to live, engage, and thrive.
Through the Roof from the Scriptures in Mark 2.
And when (Jesus) returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.
With this passage in mind, Through the Roof Community has three equal and abiding goals:
For years we searched for warm, purposeful, caring, intentional spaces for our son. Similarly we searched for housing where he might flourish in a community of friends. The harsh reality for families like ours is that while several spaces like these exist, the drastic shortage simply can’t address the demand. So with the help of friends and family we felt God’s call to create a campus: a home for men and daily space for men and women to find meaning and purpose in community.
We’re beyond blessed to host Growing Roots on that campus. Growing Roots is a vibrant, nature based day program for adults with unique abilities. We encourage you to check out this growing community and join their life-giving efforts.
Our first goal is to provide individuals (currently only men) with disabilities a way of living independently in the least restrictive environment. It’s not foster care. it’s not a group home. Rather it is a community of men in a shared housing environment that need some level of encouragement to thrive. It is our philosophy at Through the Roof Community that God’s desire is to give every one of His creations a life of dignity, one that provides the opportunity for maximum potential, and to be a valued and contributing member of society.
Our second goal is to provide a campus that hosts opportunities for adults with special needs—a place to find meaning, purpose, friendship and community. We can’t take credit for this aspect of our mission. Our partner and friends at Growing Roots serve all manner of individuals through animal and horticultural therapy. If you have read this far, you will want most definitely want to learn more about Growing Roots here.
Our third goal is to create a community of individuals who are attentive to the needs of these underserved individuals; men and women who are made in God’s image; a community that meets and even exceeds the needs of these men and women with their time and resources.
Guiding Principles, Mission, and Vision
Purpose:
An environment that holistically responds to the spiritual, social, mental, and physical needs of exceptional adults;
…A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
Mission:
To provide an engaging environment that fosters optimal independence, intentional care, and an environment that affirms meaning, purpose, and dignity.
…I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
Vision:
A flourishing community of valued adults with exceptional gifts and needs.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Through the Roof Community Housing: A Collaboration of Families Coming Together.
We are passionate about providing a safe and encouraging space for people who may not find it just anywhere.
Families of the housemates are a vital part of not only their loved one’s team but are crucial to fostering a thriving community of men.
Through the Roof doesn’t replace family involvement, Supports Coordinators, or all direct care workers. Through the Roof essentially operates as the property manager. Families of the housemates share in responsibility to create a thriving environment with the help of house mentor.
Families of residents coordinate services among housemates as much as possible, and Through the Roof Community and its Community Mentor step in to guide the housemates toward the involvement determined by the residents and their loved ones. The housemates’ supports coordinators continue to be the primary facilitator of services for each housemate. Our Community Mentor works closely with the support community of each resident to help our guys live their best lives.
Blog
The Road Less Traveled
It’s been 15 months since the Elder family purchased the property we now refer to as Brendon’s house. (This house is...
Through the Roof Community
The image of friends awkwardly yet persistently lowering a paralytic man through a roof in order to usher their friend...
