St. Matthew House was conceived from the idea of one of the parishioners of The Orthodox Church of St. Matthew [ www.stmatthewoca.org ], Maria Turley.
Living with Multiple Sclerosis herself, Maria was a nurse with extensive experience in the field of independent living and rehabilition services. In the Spring of 1994, Maria brought to the attention of the parish a group of physically disabled adults in the community who were in need of specialized housing and supportive services.
Although private and public agencies in this region continue to develop housing programs for the chronically mentally ill, developmentally disabled and the frail elderly, there were no existing independent living facilities in the state exclusively for adults with physical disabilities. St. Matthew Housing Development, Inc. was formed by The Orthodox Church of St. Matthew [ www.stmatthewoca.org ] to address this need.
St. Matthew House offers individuals with physical disabilities an opportunity to continue to live independently in the community in accessible living spaces and a supportive environment.
Maria was St. Matthew House's first resident and thoroughly enjoyed seeing her vision come to fruition before her passing in March 2002.
The parish community continues to be an integral part of the project by occupying positions on the Board of Directors, hosting activities and meals, and sharing their time, resources and gifts with the residents.
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