INREACH

Since 1974, InReach has been supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Mecklenburg and surrounding counties. The nonprofit organization serves 1,200 children and adults each year by providing resources and assistance to encourage as much independence as possible.

Lori Gougeon, president, and CEO has been with the organization for 32 years. She said InReach primarily works with adults and offers affordable housing, job coaching and connections, emergency financial assistance, and daily support and assistance. InReach has a staff of 500 to make this possible.

“InReach provides this opportunity for them to grow and develop just like their peers or their brothers and their sisters,” Gougeon said.

 

 

You may know InReach by a different name; it’s changed names three times. When the nonprofit organization was founded, it was known as Charlotte Rehabilitation Homes. In 2002 after it became accredited by the Council on Quality and Leadership, it changed its name to Mecklenburg Group Homes. As its list of services grew, the name changed again to Residential & Support Services Inc. to reflect that.

Then, in 2010, the organization received a grant from an advertising agency in Charlotte for free PR and marketing. So it changed its name to InReach to reflect its goal to make dreams within reach of the people it serves.

InReach owns two apartment complexes, 11 condominium units across Charlotte, and 14 residential group homes. Because of its partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, residents only pay one-third of their income toward rent under Section 811 subsidized housing. While there isn’t a waitlist for group homes, Gougeon said the waitlist for apartments and condos is 80 people long.

InReach connects the individuals they serve with 150 employers, ranging from banks to fast food restaurants to retail, and coaches work with them to create resumes and prepare for job interviews. Sometimes, InReach coaches will accompany them to interviews, and once they’re hired, will continue to go to work with them until they are comfortable.

InReach ensures the adults they serve are having many different types of life experiences. Gougeon said they have great relationships with the Charlotte Ballet, Clayworks, and YMCA to provide classes for their adults. InReach also offers its own classes in art, music therapy, and independent living.

Gougeon said her biggest challenge right now is finding employees.

“Like everywhere else, we're competing now with Walmart and McDonald’s, and we're not able to pay high wages,” she said. “It's such important work that we do, so we have to have good people in these jobs.”

Along with government funding, Gougeon said InReach receives donations from foundations, corporations, individuals, and fundraisers. InReach hosts two big fundraisers every year to ensure that they can offer their coaching and life assistance for free: the DreamMaker Luncheon in November and the Crown Town Throwdown Cornhole Tournament in April. About 90 individuals have joined the Dream Maker Society to pledge $1,000 a year for five years.

—LB

This article was presented in the Friday, July 29th, 2022 publication of The Charlotte Ledger Business Newsletter edition.