Our History
CRi, formerly Arlington Community Residences, Inc., began in 1975 when a group of Arlington families, faith groups and government leaders worked with Arlington County to charter an independent nonprofit agency that would bring together & expand efforts to help people with mental health and/or developmental disabilities to live & work in their own local communities.
At its outset, Arlington Community Residences (as it was initially known) stood at the forefront of the growing community integration movement. This grass-roots, family-driven effort sought to create community-based alternatives to the institutionalization of people with mental health or intellectual disabilities.
As the community integration movement grew & the demand for community-based alternatives expanded, Arlington Community Residences became Community Residences when services were initiated throughout Northern Virginia, the Richmond area & in Maryland. Expansion was not only geographic -- CRi also began to offer case management & transitional support for people who were homeless, residential youth services, day programs for adult with developmental disabilities, & home-based clinical & practical support for people living on their own.
Let’s take a journey to highlight some of the biggest achievements in our industry, community & beyond...
1977 – WHAT A GREAT YEAR! Community Residence’s first group home supporting people with Intellectual Disabilities is established at N. 22nd Road, serving 12 individuals.
1982 – The first ICF of its kind in Virginia is opened to support individuals dually diagnosed with Intellectual Disabilities & mental illness.
2013 – Virginia settles with the Department of Justice to provide more community-based services for people with Intellectual Disabilities. Virginia decides to close its Training Centers, providing more opportunities for people to live independently in their own communities through organizations such as CR.
