Building Our Rainbow
In the mid 1960s, several families wanted to ensure that their children with developmental disabilities would have a home and care once they could no longer provide for them.
These families were faced with difficult decisions about the future of their loved ones. At the time, they had very limited options beyond putting their children in an institution. These founding families of Rainbow Village wanted to provide living with a heart for their children and for other people with developmental disabilities. They wanted to provide homes, not just housing, for people with developmental disabilities-to help improve the quality of their lives.
By 1978, seven group homes, the Sunnen Community Center and a Respite Care Center opened on nine acres in St. Louis County. The success of that initial program led to expansion throughout St. Louis County and most recently in St. Charles County.
Rainbow Village currently houses 230 residents in 50 homes in neighborhoods throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area. Whether on our main campus or in one of our neighborhood homes throughout the area, Rainbow Village homes give our residents the chance to be part of the community. By maintaining our homes to the highest standards and constantly monitoring them to assess residents’ needs, we are able to provide safety, comfort and independence for our residents.
Rainbow Village now owns and manages homes in the following communities:
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To view some of the Rainbow Village homes, click here.
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In addition to providing neighborhood homes, Rainbow Village operates the Sunnen Community Center, a multi-use facility, which includes an indoor heated therapeutic swimming pool, gymnasium, adult day programs, meeting rooms and offices, cafeteria, and walking trail. Over 1,200 people use the Center annually, people with disabilities as well as the general public. Click here to view activities offered at the Sunnen Community Center.
Rainbow Village collaborates with various support service agencies to best meet the housing needs of people with developmental disabilities. We are proud to work in partnership with the following agencies that supply caring assistance and support: St. Louis Arc, Life Skills, Emmaus Homes, Bethesda, Bridges of Missouri, Cooperative Home Care, Creative Concepts for Living, Resources for Human Development, TouchPoint Autism Services, UCP of Greater St. Louis, and Willows Way.
To hear from the families of our residents how Rainbow Village has made a difference in the lives of their loved ones, click here.
To find out how you can help improve the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities, click here.
