Life Sharing
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What is Life Sharing?
By pooling our human and environmental resources each one of us is a helper, and each one of us is helped. We assume that each of us is more than the sum of our disabilities and, with our needs recognized, we can all get on with the more important business of life. We share our energies, humor, struggles, triumphs, and talents pushing each other to be more together than we are apart. Together, we enjoy a rich home life and are supported in our vocational and social endeavors. We have both a residential and say program and welcome volunteers on a short-term or long-term basis. |
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Home Life
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At Community Homestead adults share an integrated life with friends of various abilities, ages, personalities. and cultural backgrounds This often includes families with children who grow up in the integrated heart of this community life.
Some choose to live in team houses, where everyone lives as an extended family of friends, each with responsibility for the running of their shared home. Others choose to live in smaller situations, in an apartment for one or two people. Each person is supported and integrated into community life, and from there, into the social and vocational life of the locality. Each home is co ordinated by long time coworkers, committed to the life and mission of the community. We share a dedication to fundamental principles of community life, but the character of the house is largely determined by the people who live there. Lively households including young children, quieter ones with older people, more independent, more adventurous? It all depends on the individual householders. We are joined by short term volunteers from all over the US and other countries, enriching us all with their energy and culture. Each person helps out in the house, helping it to run smoothly, and each one is helped by house mates and community members. Having the opportunity to help as well as to accept help emphasizes the value, and dignity, of us all. The rhythm of daily life We stress a natural and traditional community life. Common meals, celebrations and festivities are all part of living here. We minimize the isolation of activities such as tv, or computers, emphasizing initiative, creative, and personal connection. Walking to a friend’s house, inviting people over, getting invited to dinner at another house, going for a hike, to town, visiting family, are all reflections of the daily social freedom. Weekends find us; cleaning the house, shopping, biking, going to the movies, restaurants, concerts, or the theater, and walking, swimming, canoeing, skating or sledding depending on the season. Everyone here has at least one vacation every year. We support each other’s interests and tastes so while we enjoy our community life, we are not limited by it. Licensing Each of our houses is licensed by the State of Wisconsin or by Inclusa as an Adult Family Home. |
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Day Program
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Schedules are individualized to meet tastes and need. Community activities are meaningful, healthy, and connected to our natural environment and rural life while the choice and opportunity for work (paid and volunteer) beyond the community is also supported.
All the residents can choose to be fully involved in the day program which runs 9-12noon and 2-5pm. We are also joined by others for the day who live with their families in the locality. Again, schedules are individualized to reflect a need for skill development, young adult transition, social connection, and/or specific goals. We co ordinate with the individual, families and schools to create opportunities. Meals and a lunch break in each house community is included. Terms Everyone at Community Homestead is a volunteer and receives no salary or payment in exchange for his/her activities. Participation is by individual agreement. All our households are licensed by the State of Wisconsin or certified by local agencies. |
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