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Relationships of Hope

• January 9th, 2009

The Czech writer and politician Vaclav Havel said, “hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out”. The disability system and the various components of which people Hope House supports must interact with holds hope that things will go well yet too often making sense of the outcomes is far too challenging. A recent example of this was Governor Kaine’s budget proposal that recommends the closing of Southeastern Virginia Training Center, a large congregate setting for approximately 185 people with disabilities located in Chesapeake. On the surface it offers the opportunity for people to relocate to smaller facilities or ideally their own home, this is a good thing that offers a great deal of hope. The closure of large facilities have been pursued by states across our nation for over 10 years or more, and to be fair the primary motivation of the decision makers has been in the interest of those confined to such facilities, but is that true here in Virginia? The motivation appears to be connected to money. For years many disability associations and national groups have called on states to pursue community services and not institutional care, however Virginia has remained steadfast in its support of institutions for those with disabilities and up to this point has not closed one. That may be about to change. Some would say so what, as long as we move forward with more progressive and state of the art services then what does it matter if we close institutions because of money or because it is the right thing to do by people with disabilities. I disagree. I think the only way any transformation of services makes sense is when the biggest stakeholder, the person with the disability is the reason for the change. Only then can we be assured that we not only do the right thing but we also do it the right way. I have met many people living in institutions who given a chance would be happier and have more control over their lives in a different setting, preferably their own home. But what about the relationships that exist between people with disabilities and those that have assisted and supported them for years, how does such a right and bold move affect these? I suspect the budget plan does not address this, yet it is more than likely to hold the greatest impact of this change. In order for this closure or any more like it to be successful and meaningful it must put at the forefront the relationships that have been formed. Staff members develop friendships with those they work for, just like we do. We must insure these are as valued as the money that motivates the decision makers.

At Hope House Foundation we place a high regard on relationships, not only among our board of directors, staff and those we support but also with our community. If someone told me tomorrow that Hope House would be located to say, New Jersey, what would become of this agency? We would be a shell of what we once were, because the tapestry and fabric within this organization is interwoven and sewed together by the people that care about us, without them, Hope House is not Hope House. We would lack the meaning not to mention enthusiasm necessary to continue our journey in the same way. You cannot replace 30 years of building friendships, creating a home, and most importantly understanding about who you are and what you want to become very easily…. if at all. Things that make sense are trust, love, support and the uniqueness of each relationship we have and ever will have. I suspect if you are reading this then you too have a relationship with this organization, maybe its been ages since we have seen one another or just yesterday, all are important to us and shape who we are and who we want to become.

So yes Virginia, do continue this effort to put large congregate institutions in our past, where they belong, but not the people who have formed strong ties and irreplaceable friendships, hold them scared and important because in doing so we will create hope with meaning.