ANFFAS
Milan
RESIDENTS: Twenty-eight adults with a degree of independence. The five residences vary in size (4, 6, 2, 12, and 4 residents) depending on available space, circumstances, and the skills of trained and paid staff.
STAFF: ANFFAS operators work in rotation, generally in numbers matching the residents, plus additional volunteers. A coordinator-director oversees operators across all five residences.
LOCATIONS
- an apartment owned by one of the residents;
- a rented space;
- a rented space leased in the name of a resident;
- a space on the top floor of the ANFFAS building;
- another ANFFAS location.
DAILY LIFE: All residents are out during the day: work, sheltered employment, day centers, or school.
MANAGEMENT: ANFFAS Milan. A formal agreement exists between the City of Milan and ANFFAS. Signor Xavier, an ANFFAS operator, oversees all five residences.
Casa
Sant'Egidio Community — Rome
RESIDENTS: Six adults (four men and two women) with reasonable independence; four are permanent, one is transitioning to permanent status, one is in residence for a limited time.
STAFF: In the morning, one paid staff member—a member of the Sant'Egidio Community—serves as house manager. At night, a paid male staff member provides supervision and assists with morning and evening care. In the afternoon, about twenty Sant'Egidio volunteers provide support in fixed shifts of one or two at a time.
LOCATION: An apartment owned by one of the residents, located in the city center, with five rooms and a kitchen.
DAILY LIFE: The atmosphere is family-like. Three residents attend schools or day centers; the others remain at home and help with household tasks as they are able. In the afternoon, all residents take part in outside activities accompanied by volunteers.
MANAGEMENT: The responsible director organizes household life and manages funds in consultation with Sant'Egidio Community members (weekly meetings). Income comes from residents' pensions or allowances, and from three full-time home care positions provided through the Pulcinella Cooperative (Sant'Egidio), funded by the City of Rome.
Il Carro
Newly Established Community — Fiumicino (Rome)
RESIDENTS: Three adults (two women, one man) with intellectual disabilities, plus one temporary placement.
STAFF: Three full-time assistants who live on-site, plus passing volunteers. What matters is a commitment to this way of life; for specific problems, qualified professionals are consulted.
LOCATION: A seven-room farmhouse in countryside near the city, offered indefinitely. The property includes surrounding agricultural land.
DAILY LIFE: Life is communal and Christian. Two residents attend a day center. The others work within the community and outside it. All return to their families on weekends and during holidays.
MANAGEMENT: A social solidarity cooperative with a board of directors. The community draws inspiration from the lived experience of Fede e Luce. It has no formal agreement with or support from local authorities. Residents contribute to community expenses from their pensions. The community is also sustained by donations. The nearby parish of Sant'Silvia supports the community in various ways.
Podere Sauro-Perolla
A Home to Live In — Massa Marittima (GR)
Some creations are unique and cannot be reproduced, yet they remain powerful, moving, and precious to those who have found refuge in them. They teach us much.
Three priests with an average age of seventy-four and about twenty men with disabilities—most without families—share a home under one roof in a vast and beautiful Tuscan valley. Together they work the land, raise animals, harvest grapes, and make wine. In winter they cut wood; in summer they take holidays. The life is somewhat austere, but genuine. Here the daily rhythm is set by the needs of plants and animals. Each person has a task suited to his abilities, and each takes pride in his work: Alberto in the stable and the thirty cattle he oversees, Father Mario in his garden, Giulio in the tractor he drives himself, and Pietro in the wine cellar that he shows visitors, where we taste excellent wine. At noon this unusual family gathers for a simple, good, and abundant meal. A woman from the nearby village comes to cook and is helped by one of the men. Two others manage the laundry. The group also includes two conscientious objectors and a neighboring farmer who helps out from time to time. During harvest season, the house welcomes many friends who return each year to lend a hand. There is no office, no paperwork, but there is much hard work, great smiles, a welcoming table, and their own wine—a house of which they are all proud.
A dignified life, useful, protected, not lonely, peaceful, healthy, respectful of each person's autonomy.
Administrative management is handled by the Don Orione Institute of Genoa.
La Barchessa
Three Communities — Friars Minor Conventional, Noventa (PD)
RESIDENTS: Five residents per community with mild, severe, or profound intellectual disabilities.
STAFF: Four assistants per community, working in rotation, with one or two staying overnight, plus volunteer friends who visit often but not on a fixed schedule. Assistants are community workers (with secondary school diploma and training at La Barchessa).
LOCATION: A beautiful farmhouse completely renovated and divided into three apartments, with a surrounding park, built to current standards.
DAILY LIFE: During the day, all residents attend a CEOD (Daily Educational and Occupational Center) in the area. In the residence, life is family-like, with activities grounded in a "relational therapeutic approach."
MANAGEMENT: Run by staff selected by the Friars Minor Conventional at Sant'Antonio Village in the Padua Province. Income comes from agreements with the local health authority (USL) and the home municipalities of residents. While residents may be referred by public agencies, the village reserves the right to accept them following screening.
Casa-Famiglia Zoran
Our Family — Oderzo (TV)
RESIDENTS: Up to twelve young people with various difficulties. Long-term or temporary stays.
STAFF: A married couple, Maria Teresa and Alberto Cappellotto, supported by paid and volunteer staff.
LOCATION: A beautiful house built specifically with proceeds from a donation to "La Nostra Famiglia." The land was acquired with the sponsorship of eleven municipalities.
DAILY LIFE
All attend school or a day center during the day. At home, life is like that of a large family: homework, play, meals, and more. The community is inspired by Gospel values.
MANAGEMENT: Administrative and technical oversight by "La Nostra Famiglia" of Conegliano (TV).
"It is family because it means sharing every moment of life, pre-existing family bonds, the struggles of living with one's disability, and because there is dialogue among all members of the household."
Three Hearths of Il Chicco
ARCA, Ciampino (Rome)
RESIDENTS
Ten people with disabilities: three adults, seven children or adolescents. One hearth for adults, two for the others, composed according to criteria for participation in community life.
STAFF
About ten permanent staff members (assistants). They live in the hearths twenty-four hours a day, with some time off on weekends or weeks. What is required is a commitment to this way of life and to communal living. The director holds an educator's diploma. Nine additional people with various skills run the workshops.
LOCATIONS
Three family-style homes, three workshops, a community hall. There is large green space.
DAILY LIFE
Life is communal and Christian. During the day, some children attend an outside special school; others join an awakening workshop. Adults work in community workshops.
MANAGEMENT
"Il Chicco" is a recognized association—part of ARCA. There is a board of directors. Staff receive reimbursement for expenses. There is no formal agreement with authorities. Some residents receive maintenance subsidies from the province or the City of Ciampino. Others contribute their personal care allowance to the community. "Il Chicco" also receives many donations.
- compiled by Nicole Schulthes (1991)