ONELIFE FOUNDATION – HAPPY HOMES

OneLife Foundation provides support to persons with disabilities, like Autism, based on natural family placement. Natural Family Placement is a living arrangement in which an Individual with Special-Needs (ISN) lives with his/her own family, which might include the parental family, relatives, or spouse and/or children. People receive the services and support they need while living in their own homes. The services and/or supports are flexible and tailored to the individual’s needs and preferences. Services and supports are most effective when furnished where a person lives and within the context of his or her day-to-day activities.

Happy Homes Housing Cooperative (HHHC) was born out of this need. Its goal is to provide a safe and secure environment for persons with disabilities (PWDs), the elderly and their families, together with their service providers.

Our first grant to OneLife Foundation Inc was provided in July 2023 in support of our advocacy to help children from all walks in life. This first grant was targeted to help persons with disability, specifically those with autism.  In February 2024, Children’s Hope Charities and the OneLife Foundation started to look at possible collaboration projects that would help both the Foundation in its work and the PWDs they serve. The most glaring need that was identified and which became the goal of this new partnership between OLFI and CHC was to provide intensive training to carers who will work with individuals with special needs, equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to support these individuals in a Community-Based Setting. 

By May of 2024, OneLife Foundation and Children’s Hope Charities formally agreed to establish the Training Program for Carers of Special Needs Individuals, with CHC providing funds to train carers of special needs individuals. Our first batch of individuals undergoing carer training will graduate before year end 2024 and same will enter formal employment at Happy Homes and OLFI under a contract serving for four years. We aim to continue providing help to the Foundation as our resources allow.