Service Partnerships

OVRS has had an important relationship with two organizations for over twenty-five years: Madeira Homes for the Developmentally, Inc. (MH/DD), and Southwest Ohio Residences, Inc. (SWOR).

MH/DD grew because of an intense interest from a long time resident of the city  of Madeira and member of the Madeira Presbyterian Church, Mrs. Virginia Perin. She used the local resources of the city and the church to form a board and to secure a grant from the state of Ohio for a home that would be located in Madeira, on Galbraith Road. OVRS has worked with MH/DD since 1979, opened the first home in 1980 for six women. In 1989, OVRS worked with the MH/DD board to purchase another home site in Madeira, on Strifler Ave. for five women. The MH/DD board is very attentive and involved to the needs of both their housing and the women who live in the homes.

SWOR traces its origin to the early 1980’s and a small passionate group, led by Dr. Lou Stadhler, whose families shared a common characteristic – autism.

These families saw their sons and daughters by-passed in the service system. OVRS assisted SWOR in the purchase of their first home site, a four-unit apartment building on Ferncroft, and in seeking state financial support for the requisite services. An intriguing feature of the apartment arrangement itself was to permit a significant variation of behavior while limiting the negative interactions because of the separate apartment units. In the late 1980’s SWOR purchased its second site a home for five men in North College Hill. The SWOR board is also actively involved with both their building and those who live in those homes.