Live-In Assistant

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The responsibilities of an Assistant include care-giving, helping to create a home environment, building community and being an accompanier to those with disabilities. Assistants are remunerated with room and board and also a stipend.

Assistants are often surprised by the new horizons that open up for them through the depth of their experiences and by the way that the people at the heart of a L'Arche community touch their lives. Often their experiences inspire them to find what is truly life-giving by discovering in themselves new gifts through which they develop a clearer sense of direction for the future.

As a candidate for probationary membership, one is not required to have any previous experience with people with a developmental disability or community living. Indeed for many, L’Arche is their first experience of both.

During the first months, an assistant learns about the values, philosophy, and way of life at L'Arche, undergoes extensive training to become Home Care Aide certified, and develops relationships with the people in their home, gradually taking on more responsibilities. Many assistants decide that, because they are growing and finding life in L'Arche, they will make a further commitment of a second, third or seventh years ;). Many assistants have found that their time in L'Arche has been one of the most formative of their life.

We ask applicants to have a willingness to embrace the formation and training that L'Arche provides (including learning American Sign Language), to work in a team, and to support the members of a home and to participate in the activities of the community.

Assistants receive medical and dental benefits. Each has about 3 hours of personal time each day, two days away each week (though not always on Saturday and Sunday) and a month’s vacation after the year.

Experience daily life with people who are different to you. It’s a lot of fun. It’s also challenging.