Providing safe, integrated, community living services
Home Life was founded in 1972 as a grass roots response to the pressure to institutionalize people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). This private, non-profit (501(c)(3)) organization provides safe, integrated, community living services for the purpose of enhancing the quality of life for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Home Life serves adults through the Residential Program, Supported Living Program, and Vocational Services Programs. Each program promotes independent living skills and community integration.
Our Vision
Choices for all. Barriers for none.
Our Mission
Home Life assists people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to enjoy active, productive, and empowered lives.
Our Values
We believe that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities:
- should be treated with dignity and respect, and should be involved in decision-making that affects their lives;
- should be encouraged to live as independently as possible within a safe, healthy environment that fosters growth; and
- have many capabilities, are valuable, and contribute to the community.
Our Goal
To create a safe environment in which people are challenged and grow into more independent living.
Making a Difference One Individual at a Time
Home Life supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities at home, at work, and throughout the broader community.
At home: Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) in our Residential Program provide 24-hour care for over 25 supported individuals, throughout our seven group homes. Other staff provide a variety of supports to our clients who live independently or with roommates in our Supported Living Program.
At work: Our Vocational Services Program accompanies people with disabilities through the process of developing skills, identifying potential jobs, applying for and obtaining those jobs, and with job coaching to maintain their positions.
In the community: Supported Living also works with adults with I/DD who still live with their families and want to be more engaged in the broader community. DSPs accompany supported individuals to a variety of activities, including meals out, volunteering, classes, and independent skill development.
Our History
Home Life was started by families for families.
In November, 1972, several members of the Corvallis community decided to create an alternative option for those with developmental disabilities (formerly Housing for the Handicapped).
Family members of people with developmental disabilities wanted alternative opportunities that would provide for challenge and growth and ultimately lead to more independent living. The idea was to create a home-like environment, avoiding placement in the state institution.
1972
New Beginnings
It all began on November 27, 1972. Housing for the Handicapped (now Home Life) started with just one home, and that was the Martha House.
1976
Following the Vision
In 1976, Housing for the Handicapped purchased a home at the intersection of 25th Street and Fillmore which was licensed as a Residential Training Home serving twelve clients with developmental disabilities.
1977
Momentum
A new house was purchased on 25th Street, which is known today as the Koebel House.
1978
Providing Years of Training
From 1978 through 1981, Martha House was used as a training site for Teaching Research. Teaching Research and Housing for the Handicapped developed a Community Based Training Program that taught skills training techniques to residential training home staff from all around the state of Oregon.
1980
Ground Breaking Donated Land
With land donated by Anna and Dorval Bevens in 1980, and an HUD (Housing and Urban Development) 202 loan, development began for what would soon become Home Life’s Division Street House.
1989
A Specialized Service
In June, 1989, the Duplex Home located at 1710 NW Division Street opened. Housing for the Handicapped became more specialized by serving clients with mental illness and developmental disabilities. The Duplex was the first attempt at serving five such individuals in a home.
1991
Semi-Independent Living Changes
In the Spring of 1991, with an ever increasing client to staff ratio of 12 to 1, Housing for the Handicapped returned our Semi-Independent Living Program to Benton County.
1992
Onward and Upward
The Martha House continued to age over twenty years as a residential program. After two major remodeling projects, Martha House was put up for sale. It was on the market for five years and in the Spring of 1992 it sold.
Housing for the Handicapped was the third Supported Living Program in the State of Oregon to be pre-certified and 30 days later became the second Supported Living program to actually be certified for this new service element.
1993
The Name Changer
In January of 1993, Division Street House was renamed to Mumford House.
In the Spring of 1993, Housing for the Handicapped, Inc. became Home Life, Inc.
1995
Building Relationships
In 1995, Home Life was proud to be selected by the University of Oregon in the Mentorship Project. Home Life selected the Duplex Intensive Training Home as the program for participation in this project.
2002
New Options
In 2002 Home Life founded the Self-Directed Support Program which offered a menu of services to clients needing individualized services.
2004
Meeting the Demand
In 2004 Home Life founded Hayes Street House which provides housing to three clients.
Kathy Robinson donated the Robinson House
2005
Coho, Koebel, and Zaback
In 2005 Home Life began a fundraising program for the CoHo project.
Later in 2005, longtime Executive Director, Art Koebel retired; in honor of the work accomplished by Art during his tenure, 25th Street House was renamed Koebel House. Dave Zaback started as the new Executive Director of Home Life, Inc.
2006
A Starting Line
After hosting the Great Pumpkin Run for 15 years, the Noon Corvallis Kiwanis Club Board of Directors elected Home Life to take over. The first year hosting the event was a success!
2009
Donations and Grants
The Teater House was donated to Home Life in 2009 by Robert and Louise Teater.
Home Life was awarded a grant from the City of Corvallis Community Development Block Grant Program to remodel and rehabilitate the duplex on Division Street.
2013
The Largest Capital Campaign Yet
Home Life raised over $600k in grants and donations to build a fourplex on Fillmore Ave.
2017
Feeling Homey at Home Life
In 2017, Home Life welcomed the community to visit the newly renovated Admin Building.
2019
Nonprofit of the Year
Home Life was nominated for Nonprofit of the Year by the Corvallis Chamber of Commerce.
2020
A New Look
Home Life commissioned a new logo for Home Life, upgrading the organization with a new look.
2021-2023
More Changes
Executive Director Dave Zaback retired after more than 15 years of service. Nathan Mart was hired as Executive Director. In 2023, Leslie Hoffman became our new Executive Director.