Northern Virginia Community Living Centers

When the weather is nice, Nick sets out each day for a long bike ride around his Woodbridge, Virginia neighborhood. For some people, this might seem like an effortless pursuit. For him, it’s a monumental achievement.

An intellectually disabled and autistic adult, Nick is much like his fellow residents at Cardinal House. He has a long history of property destruction, physical aggression and daily elopements. But, within a few short weeks of entering Volunteers of America Chesapeake’s intense program, he developed a daily routine. Now his elopement attempts and destructive outbursts are nominal. And, his supervised bike rides around the neighborhood are frequent.

Northern Virginia Community Living Centers is a collection of seven group homes, including Cardinal House, scattered across Arlington and Prince William Counties that provides support to 41 adults with intellectual disabilities, many with secondary diagnoses, such as schizophrenia, water intoxication, eating disorder or physical aggression. Working closely with residents, their families and community providers, staff members create and help implement an individual service plan for each resident, which might include medical, psychological and behavioral treatment, life skills training, recreation and/or education.

Since 1998, this Medicaid-funded program has helped residents to live in the least restrictive environment possible and become active community participants. For Nick, this is more than just a housing program – it’s a home.  

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14381 Hereford Drive : Woodbridge, Virginia 22193 :703-590-1969