History
of LR
Liberty Resources, Inc. was founded in 1980 by a
committee of consumers and community leaders affiliated with Disabled
In Action (DIA) who sought to develop a community-based consumer-directed
organization that would promote and support Independent Living
for Persons with Disabilities. This group worked for over two
years to identify and assess the needs of disabled consumers
in the Philadelphia area, to mobilize community support for a
Center for Independent Living (CIL) and to explore and secure
program funding. With a three-grant from the Pennsylvania
Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Center began operations
in 1980 in a “storefront” facility in West Philadelphia and was
one of the first Centers of its kind in Pennsylvania.
With an
initial staff of seven, the Center (then known as Resources for
Living Independently) served over 200 individuals in its first
year. As the Center experienced program expansion, it amicably
separated from Disabled In Action, Inc. in 1982, formed a Board
of Directors, and established an independent organization. Resources
for Living Independently (RLI) incorporated as a non-profit organization
in 1983 and received tax exempt status in 1984. During the following
years, RLI began to expand and receive grants and contracts to
provide additional services to individuals with disabilities.
RLI established contractual agreements with the City of Philadelphia
to provide homemaker services and with the Pennsylvania Department
of Public Welfare to provide personal assistance services. With
additional grants from the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational
Rehabilitation, the Center was able to offer transitioning services
to individuals leaving institutions and other sheltered environments
for independent situations in the community, and opened a satellite
office in Delaware and Montgomery Counties, thereby bringing
Independent Living services to residents of the suburban counties.
In 1992, that satellite, later called Freedom
Valley Disability Enablement Center, was incorporated and
now serves the counties surrounding the Philadelphia area.
Realizing
the need for transitional housing for individuals with disabilities
in Philadelphia, RLI began a campaign to establish a transitional
living facility which would assist individuals to move from institutions
and parental homes to Independent Living situations in the community.
The RLI Board, along with other community agencies, developed
and opened the Transition to Independent Living (TIL) facility
in September 1988 with the assistance of Housing and Human Development
(HUD), city, and foundation funding. In 1994 TIL separated from
Liberty Resources and is now governed by its own Board of Directors.
In
October 1993, RLI merged with another CIL located in Philadelphia,
the Liberty Center for Independent Living. Following the merger,
Liberty Resources, Inc. was adopted as the Center’s new name.
