To Channing Mason, director of operations for
Benning Construction, contract negotiations and building code compliance are part of a regular day at the office. But for the L'Arche staff in Decatur, Ga., these highly specialized skills are what allowed the nonprofit organization to put more of its resources toward helping others.
Following a landmark settlement between the state of Georgia and the U.S. Justice Department in 2010, many residents of Georgia’s state mental hospitals began moving into communities. This gives adults with developmental disabilities the opportunity to live fully engaged and meaningful lives. The timing could not have been better for the L’Arche facility in Decatur to open its doors.
Jean Vanier founded
L’Arche in France in 1964 after welcoming men with disabilities to live with him. As time passed, he found the men were looking for friendship more than assistance. The community of L’Arche, which translates to “the ark” in French, quickly spread and now exists in 40 countries around the world.
The L’Arche home in Decatur was just getting off the ground when Mason volunteered to act as a construction consultant for the project. The home purchased for the L’Arche facility was built in 1910 and in need of upkeep and renovations to accommodate future residents. Mason and the L’Arche staff faced plenty of obstacles, including a tight budget, an aging building and a hard completion deadline of October 2011.
Fortunately, L’Arche had Mason to guide it through the complexities of selecting an architect and contractor, negotiating contracts and complying with building codes, all while maintaining strict deadline and budget.
“It has been extremely reassuring to me and the board to have Channing’s supervision,” says Curt Armstrong, executive director of the
Decatur L’Arche facility. “His guidance has made us much more effective.”
For Mason, this was an opportunity to give back and use his construction expertise to better the lives of some of the most vulnerable members of the community.
“Once you meet the folks at L’Arche, they’re the type you can’t say no to,” Mason says. “They do such good work. Benning Construction has been involved in the Decatur community for 57 years and for us, it’s a chance to give back; to provide guidance and advice; and to help the L’Arche staff through the construction process.”
Adds Kelly Benning Huckaby, a member of Benning’s board of directors: “Community service has been woven into the company since its founding. Nonprofit organizations often need outside expertise in meeting the needs of their clients, as with construction in the case of L’Arche. Channing was able to offer assistance in a cost-effective way and with their best interest at heart.”
L’Arche plans to welcome its first residents in July 2012, with three to four residents moving in at a time, as well as one assistant per resident. The multifamily home has seven bedrooms and large living spaces. It is fully handicap-accessible and ready to welcome family, friends and neighbors.
“We’re very grateful to Benning and to Channing for the invaluable help,” Armstrong says. “People working together can do great things.”