About L'Arche

An inclusive community of people with and without intellectual disabilities

L’Arche Greater Washington, D.C. is a community of people with and without intellectual disabilities sharing life together. We celebrate the unique value of every person, recognizing and accepting our need of one another and building relationships that transform all of us.

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, L’Arche GWDC provides housing and support services to adults with intellectual disabilities, and serves hundreds of people in the wider community, of many different backgrounds, by offering a place of belonging and growth. Our community life centers on relationships, led by “core members,” the adults with intellectual disabilities who live in L’Arche homes. People come from all over the country and the world to visit L’Arche and learn from core members, our mission, and our model.

In our four homes, two in DC and two in Arlington, we eat, play, learn, laugh, grieve, and pray together. We do with and not for – growing and supporting one another in a mutually transformative way.

We are an inter-denominational Christian community that welcomes people of all faiths or none. L’Arche Greater Washington, D.C. is part of the international federation of L’Arche communities, committed to making known the gifts of people with intellectual disabilities all over the world.

Learn more about the many facets of our work by reading about our programs.

Our Programs

At L’Arche GWDC we offer lifelong homes to people with intellectual disabilities, model inclusion, train up leaders, respond to the changing needs of our core members, and grow in our faith and spirituality.

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Our Mission

We exist to make known the gifts of people with intellectual disabilities. Learn more about our identity and mission.

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Our Committees

Our committees – led by core members and assistants – lead us in aspects of community living, such as celebrating, spiritual formation, and growing in our inclusion practices.

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Learn About Our History

Since 1983, L’Arche Greater Washington, D.C. has been a model of inclusive community, where people with and without intellectual disabilities live together.

How We Got Here
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