The Story of Eugene’s Hope

L’Arche Cleveland strives to be a true home for all who come. As our Core Members have aged, we have done our best to make sure they can remain at home safely and comfortably.

Our newest home, Eugene's Hope

Twenty-two years ago, L’Arche Cleveland purchased a home in Maple Heights to meet the demand of its growing community. However, as the house and our Core Members aged, the house became too small to meet their growing mobility needs.
Core Members in wheelchairs experience difficulty maneuvering in the small rooms and narrow hallways. The walls became gouged from Core Members’ wheelchairs trying to get through them. Three Core Members with wheelchairs and walkers no longer fit in the common areas. The deck, important for enjoying the outdoors and cookouts, needs major repair. The house has no space to store the wheelchairs, lifts, and other equipment that is now part of daily life for Core Members.

Leadership and the Board of Directors determined that we urgently needed a larger, more need-fitting house in a secure neighborhood.

We quickly found a beautiful, spacious home on a quiet street in Highland Heights. The house was just minutes away from our other homes. Nearly as soon as our Board of Directors voted to begin the process of acquiring the home, an anonymous friend of the community donated the amount needed to purchase the home.

The Renovation

Through the generosity of several anonymous supporters, we quickly raised the funds needed to begin work on our newest home, which was named Eugene’s Hope.

The home was relatively well-maintained when purchased, but much of the home was inaccessible for our Core Members. After being renovated, it now has Universal Design throughout the first floor, meaning that it will be fully accessible to everyone in our community, regardless of age or ability. All interior doorways and hallways have been widened, we have added a wheel-in shower, a mechanical lift has been installed, and storage has been added, as well as countless other projects to make this home perfect for our Core Members.

The main bathroom prior to renovations
The main bathroom prior to renovations
Old bathroom with standard tub/shower
Old bathroom with standard tub/shower
Living room prior to renovations
Living room prior to renovations
During renovations
During renovations
New wheel-in shower
New wheel-in shower
Living room with widened hallway entry and new bedroom door (for easier wheelchair access)
Living room with widened hallway entry and new bedroom door (for easier wheelchair access)
The lift and stairway in garage. This will be the main entrance into the home for Core Members
The lift and stairway in garage. This will be the main entrance into the home for Core Members
Two doorways were created in the living room: one will provide access to the lift in the garage, the other will be a storage room
Two doorways were created in the living room: one will provide access to the lift in the garage, the other will be a storage room
The second floor of the home will eventually house three bedrooms
The second floor of the home will eventually house three bedrooms
The upstairs is currently one large open room, but will be split into two rooms, shown with tape here
The upstairs is currently one large open room, but will be split into two rooms, shown with tape here

The Before and Afters

After months of renovations, the work was finally complete! The first floor of the home is now fully accessible for everyone in our community.

Front Ramp BA
Kitchen front BA
Living Room BA
Diane J BA
Front BA
Kitchen
Living Room Back
Bozey BA
Bathroom BA
BJ, Bozey, and Diane J. pose in their new home
BJ, Bozey, and Diane J. pose in their new home

THANK YOU!

We are so grateful to everyone who has supported our newest home. You and your peers have raised $86,000 towards renovating and maintaining Eugene’s Hope House and donated thousands of dollars’ worth of wish list items! Because of you, we are able to continue our mission of providing a loving, caring, life-long home for our Core Members.

If you, too, would like to join in supporting our mission, there are many ways you can help! Monetary donations can be made online, or by mail. If you would like to make an in-kind donation, check out our Amazon wishlist! If you would like to spend time volunteering with L’Arche Cleveland, check out our Volunteer page. For more information, call our office at 216.721.2614!

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