Thanks to a state grant, some new residents are moving into a Rock Island neighborhood. This morning, the Arc of the Quad Cities held a ribbon cutting for its new group home for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Executive director Kyle Rick says it's additional evidence of the long transition in care - from the large state institutions of decades ago, to a small home now in a residential neighborhood.
Rick says this home, and two others now under construction, are made possible by a three million dollar state grant secured for the Arc by State Representative Pat Verschooreof Milan.
In fact, the house is named for him. Verschoore says it's a great honor.
The Arc now has 9 group homes like this in the Illinois Quad Cities, with about 8 residents or clients, and a full-time staff.
Two more group homes are set to open soon - in Rock Island and Moline - and the organization hopes to build two more next year.