Why we do it ?

 

Why does Constellations build homes for people with intellectual disabilities ?

Many people think that individuals with intellectual disabilities can simply continue living with their parents.

 

In reality, this solution is neither sustainable nor adapted to the specific needs of young adults.

A situation that remains critical

At present, the shortage of available places continues to affect all age groups in a dramatic way. While, at the time of its creation, our non-profit organisation initially set itself the mission of supporting young adults from the age of 21 – at the crucial point of their transition out of the education system, following years of guidance aimed at developing their learning abilities, autonomy and social skills – the reality on the ground quickly caught up with us.

In the face of the scale of the needs, the lack of appropriate solutions and the growing distress of families, Constellations was compelled to broaden its scope of action. This was not an ideological choice, but one driven by human and social responsibility.

In 2026, Constellations is therefore leading projects aimed at:

  • young people and adults (ATIPI, Farilu, …),

  • very young children and children (CREB, Bois Marcelle Care Centre),

  • ageing persons and seniors (Les Aubépines, Foyers de Bothey).

At every stage of life, the absence of appropriate facilities poses a major risk: that people with an intellectual disability remain entirely dependent on their parents, or are directed towards care settings that are not suited to their needs, without a genuine life project or any real prospect of inclusion.


A heavy burden on families

These situations do not affect only people with disabilities; they also have a direct and profound impact on their families. Parents are often faced with:

  • the loss of employment or a reduction in their professional activity, leading to economic insecurity,

  • social isolation, linked to the difficulty of balancing family life, professional commitments and social relationships,

  • long-term psychological and physical exhaustion.

Over time, the situation becomes even more critical. Parents grow older and gradually become less able to cope with the daily demands on their own. Adults with disabilities are then at risk of being left without appropriate solutions, without support and without a structured living environment, losing their ability to integrate into a collective living setting.

In the long term, this lack of appropriate responses too often leads to an increase in psychiatric hospitalisations, with a considerable human, social and financial cost for families as well as for society as a whole.

 

The need for adapted living environments

At Constellations, we fully support the idea that people with intellectual disabilities should be able to live independently in society whenever possible.

We also applaud supervised housing initiatives, which meet the needs of those who are close to autonomy.

 

However, our mission focuses on a different group: people with little or no autonomy.

Not out of ideology, but because this is where the need is greatest and the costs are highest.

 

👉 We believe that even those who are most severely disabled have the right to dignity, happiness, and inclusion.

 

This is exactly what the care homes supported by Constellations provide: warm, adapted, and supportive places where life can flourish.

The right to independence and fulfillment

Like all young adults, people with intellectual disabilities aspire to leave their parents’ home and live independently.

 

Independence is an essential condition for well-being:

  • every resident must be able to consider their house as “their own home”,

  • have their own room, friends, and life,

  • and be respected in their dignity and identity.

👉 In an inclusive and respectful environment, adults with intellectual disabilities can be truly happy — even if society sometimes struggles to recognize this reality.

Our values

All our homes are designed according to the Constellations Charter, which places at the center:

  • respect for fundamental rights,

  • inclusion in society,

  • dignity,

  • and the recognition and empowerment of every person, regardless of their disability.