“Michael was raised with two older brothers. After they moved out of the house he wanted his own place as well. He was raised to be quite independent. We found a place with contracted service when he was 18, but it did not promote healthy productive growth for Michael, either mentally or physically. We never found an appropriate place for Michael and near us until this year when we discovered Olympic Neighbors in Port Townsend.
Since his transition there he has made friendships with the other 5 housemates and staff. I can’t say enough praise for Hamilton House in which he resides. There is a need for more facilities (with a home atmosphere) to be available. Hamilton House offers strong community support and integration with all their clients and staff. The staff are cheerful and pleasant and are always available to help their clients and all their needs 24/7. They have daily walks and activities and special excursions and field trips as a group. They promote self-reliance, learning new tasks, sharing as in cooking, respect and help for each other, and a pleasant happy atmosphere.
When my son first came to Hamilton House, he could hardly raise his head and answer questions with any kind of confidence. As if he was afraid of repercussions. Although he could years ago, it had since been suppressed. Now just 6 months later he is talking a lot with complete sentences and is much better at conveying his needs. He’s active and can now laugh, tease and enjoy being with others. His confidence is back and he loves to help others like he used to. He’s a team player and enjoys his housemates. When he visits us he is eager to return to his ‘home’”.
— Marilyn, Mother of Michael
“Living at Hamilton House has enriched our son’s life in many ways. He and his housemates have developed a really supportive group. They all care about and look out for each other. He also has become involved with the Port Townsend Community more than he ever was before. Also, our son is nearly 56 years old so, as aging parents, we have been very concerned about what would happen to him when we were no longer able to care for him. We feel very fortunate to have had the chance for him to become a resident of Hamilton House, a truly great place for him to be living.”
— Marianne & Jim Ott, Jim’s Parents
Scott has been at the house for almost two years and we have seen some amazing things with him and with the house. The staff at the house is wonderful. They have always been kind to the residents and helping them when they need the help. The house itself always looks so neat and tidy. It seems that the staff is always looking for things to do with them. Scott is very busy and I really like that. At Christmas this year, he was able to talk on the phone with his brother, who was very impressed. We all are very impressed by the artist he has become. It happened because the staff works hard to expose them to do new things and Scott seems to take advantage of everything that is coming his way. He now considers Hamilton House his home. My husband and I are thrilled with this.
- Gary and Mary, Scott’s parents
“Participating with Olympic Neighbors is Walking the Talk of Community- Pure and Simple”
— Randy Rosens, Current Board Member
“In my time with Olympic Neighbors I realized how essential the services they provide are. This is a resource that uplifts not only people who experience developmental disabilities, but the community as a whole by promoting inclusive and accessible opportunities for everyone.”
— Leah Russell, Former Board Member
