ARTICLES

Assisi House to be group home for disabled adults

By Barbara Hughes
Special to The Catholic Virginian

Dreams become a reality one step at a time and no one understands this better than Peter and Evelyn Kiebort, parishioners at Church of the Holy Family in Virginia Beach.

More than five and a half years ago, the Kieborts, who have a daughter with Down syndrome, envisioned establishing a group home in Virginia Beach for mild to moderately mentally challenged adults.

On April 18, their dream came one step closer to becoming a reality when the Virginia Beach City Council added their approval to the Planning Commission’s consent a month earlier.

When the idea was conceived, the Kieborts shared their vision with their pastor Fr. Thomas Quinlan and Msgr. Thomas Caroluzza, who had experience with group homes.

Msgr. Caroluzza had been pastor when Church of the Holy Spirit established a transitional home for women with mental illness and was able to direct them through the appropriate channels.

The first task was to form a board of directors and secure property for the house. Their search led them to Church of the Ascension in Virginia Beach which had a parcel of land adjacent to the Church that they felt would suit their purpose.

The property was near public transportation and Ascension was willing to donate the land as long as the church didn’t bear any financial responsibility for the home.

With Bishop Walter F. Sullivan’s approval, the board met with neighbors but things soon took a down hill turn. The plan which was for a home large enough to accommodate eight adults and a staff person would be much larger than the surrounding homes. The neighbors were clearly opposed.

Eventually the board disbanded and things came to a standstill.

About two years ago a new board was established. Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo met with the group and gave his approval. The home was to be financially self-sufficient. Although it would be non-denominational, the bishop emphasized that it must reflect Catholic morals and values.

In order to establish a tax exempt status, the house needed a name. The board decided to name the house after St. Francis of Assisi because of his concern for the least of God’s creatures and because he is well known beyond the Catholic community.

Two weeks after choosing the name, a neighbor asked the Kieborts if they would be interested in a life size, wood carving of St. Francis of Assisi.

The neighbors were not Catholic, but had purchased the statue during one of their travels. Now they were moving and didn’t have room for it. They were not aware of the plan for Assisi House so the Kieborts saw the gesture as confirmation to pursue their dream.

To date, most of the preliminary work has been done pro bono and the Fricano Foundation contributed about $45,000 as seed money.

Current chair Jim McElligott credits Fr. James Parke, pastor of Ascension, with moving the effort forward.

“We’ve really been blessed and every time things take a turn that we don’t know how to handle, the right people seemed to come along,” he said. “Jim Parke is well-respected not only at Ascension but in the greater community and he keeps nudging us along.”

Now the Board is faced with the task of raising $1.5 to $1.7 million to cover the cost of construction and the first year’s operating expenses.

Assisi House will have a revenue stream. Residents will pay $6,000 up front and will contribute $2,000 a month and will be employed. It is being modeled after Good Neighbor Village near Richmond.

Pete Kiebort solicited the advice of founder Sandy Thompson who, much to his surprise, testified before the City Council that such efforts can be successful. Good Neighbor Village now has three such group homes.

According to Fr. Parke, “Winning over the neighbors is an ongoing challenge. We’re trying to abide by their suggestions.

“We’re keeping our programs at Church from imposing on their way of life.

“We’ve curtailed the rental of our hall, imposing an eleven o’clock curfew to keep noise down. Building two houses rather than one, which they requested, would be cost prohibitive so we’re doing what we can to be good neighbors.”

Assisi House will have 24-hour supervision and be properly licensed. Board member Greg Franceski of Ascension said, “The neighbors have never been opposed to our mission; it’s the presence of the large structure in their neighborhood that they object to. We’re hoping once people move in, they will warm up to the idea.”

A waiting list of 270 prospective applicants confirms the need for the group home.

As Pete pointed out, more than 71 percent of mild to moderate mentally challenged adults have no recourse other than nursing homes when parents are no long alive or able to care for them.

The Kieborts know first hand the anguish of parents who face retirement with concerns about how their mentally challenged child will fare once they are gone or no longer able to care for him or her.

Their daughter Kim is 40 but as Evelyn pointed out, “There are so many parents who are in their 80s caring for children in their 50s whose needs are greater than ours. They no longer drive and it is a real burden for them.”

Evelyn Kiebort views the group home as a way for residents to socialize and enjoy a more independent and productive life. “As our children have grown and married, Kim is lonely. She has no friends.

“A group home is a way for residents to be with other people with whom they can relate and be self-sufficient.”

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