Jewish Foundation for Group Homes

Founded in 1982, JFGH supports more than 150 adults with developmental disabilities and/or chronic mental illness, helping them lead independent lives within the fabric of our community.

Why do we exist?

Since 1982, JFGH, a non-sectarian organization, has been working to enhance the independence and quality of life for adults with disabilities. JFGH was established to provide answers to the questions faced by parents who needed to plan for the day when they would no longer be able to care for and support their adult children. 

JFGH provides long-term support, personal assistance services and training to enhance independent living skills. Our goal is to provide a beautiful home, a warm and caring family for our residents in more than 60 living arrangements including group homes, apartments, and other living units.

Throughout our program, the emphasis is on empowering those with disabilities the personal freedoms that we so often take for granted. All applicants are considered, residents are served, and staff and board members are selected without regard to race, religion or national origin. JFGH is a model worldwide for its excellence.

What have you accomplished?

JFGH was one of the very first Jewish residential programs of its kind and, during the past two decades, has become a model worldwide for organizations with similar missions who wish to emulate our successful program. Today, JFGH has the distinction of being one of the premier residential programs for adults with disabilities in the country, providing a level of service, dignity, and independence unprecedented nationally.

Danny’s Story

Danny is a 32 year old man with Cerebral Palsy with severe physical and communication disabilities.  Danny was living in a residential program in NY where his older brother Andy believed Danny was being neglected and mistreated.  At the time, Danny and Andy’s father was in a nursing home and their mother was deceased so there was no one other than Andy who could help Danny.  Although Andy was about to enter his first year of Medical School, Andy went to New York and took Danny back to his studio apartment in DC.  Danny lived with Andy for almost a year on his sleep sofa and received around the clock care by a home health nursing company.  Danny relied entirely on Andy for recreational activities and the ability to be out in the community.  Due to Andy’s medical school schedule, it was often difficult to get Danny to activities.

Andy worked endlessly to try and find an appropriate residential program for Danny.  Because of Danny and Andy’s religious up-bringing, the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes was the only agency that they felt could provide Danny with the support and Jewish lifestyle to which he had been accustomed.   Danny and Andy’s father had always wished Danny would have a Bar Mitzvah which was not an option when Danny was child due to his extensive disabilities. Although Danny and Andy’s father recently passed away, Andy’s last words to his father was that Danny was accepted to JFGH and will one day soon have a Bar Mitzvah.

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