About Us

Our Mission

Community Homes provides, promotes, and sustains exceptional community-based housing for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Our Equity Commitment

Community Homes values inclusive, diverse, and equitable communities and is committed to ensuring the organization reflects the community we serve. We will prioritize the needs of people with disabilities whose oppression is compounded by race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status, and acknowledge the under-representation of these groups in community-based housing. Full Statement: EQUITY STATEMENT 01.2020

Phone:
425-233-6930

Mailing Address:
PO Box 1240, Bothell, WA 98041

Office (By Appointment):
10532 NE 68th St., Suite 201,
Kirkland, WA 98033

Tax ID:
91-1700810

Community Homes, Inc., a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 organization, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability and/or veteran status.

Community Homes is a member of the Housing Development Consortium and Alliance of Eastside Agencies.

In Memory of Rush Riese

Rush Riese was a highly respected member of Community Homes’ board of directors from 2017 – 2020. He was smart, thoughtful, and articulate. He never failed to share an unexpected insight or amusing anecdote at meetings. He made certain that all points of view were heard and considered. Rush brought heart to his service on our board, drawing upon his personal experiences with people with disabilities as well as his business expertise, to inform his input. Everyone at Community Homes will deeply miss his gentle, witty, kind presence. We are all better for having known him.

-Vicki Isett, Executive Director

History

Founders John and Ann Therrien started Community Homes in 1995 for their daughter, Jenny. They wanted her to have every opportunity to live more independently. Our first Adult Family Home in Bellevue still serves Jenny and four other women. Since then we have expanded to ownership of seven Adult Family Homes and have assisted families in the development of eight Shared Living households throughout King County, serving more than 50 residents. Our live-in, licensed care providers ensure continuity of support services, enabling our residents to achieve their highest potential.

Our Administration

Vicki Isett

Executive Director

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Alyssa Midgley

Director of Services

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Helene Wentink

Director of Operations

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Cindy Wilkins

Operations Manager

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Cathy Murahashi

Education & Outreach Manager

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Annie Puchar

Housing Coordinator

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Jim Forbes

Finance Manager

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Our Board of Directors

Tom Bartholomew

President

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Rush Riese

Board Member – In Memoriam

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Curtis Young

Treasurer

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Marcie Hinthorne

Vice President

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John Smiley

Past President

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Lisa Soli

Board Member

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Sarah Sherertz Vogt

Secretary

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Lynn Chittenden

Board Member

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Mark Morgenstern

Board Member

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Our Care Providers

Our dedicated Care Providers are the heart of our work. We are grateful for their passion and daily support of our residents.

Testimonials

“Thank you for meeting with us yesterday. You were so helpful and the information you gave us made us see that our daughter’s community goals seem achievable.”

“We are grateful for all they do … Community Homes helps our young adults with disabilities lead a more independent life. It is reassuring to know that Community Homes is a huge piece of support for our daughter now and into the future.”

“Community Homes has been a life line of learning for me. They are someone I can trust, and entrust my most valuable possession with – my son. And I am still listening and learning something new”

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Vicki Isett

Executive Director

Main responsibilities:
Strategic & Operational Responsibility, Finance, Human Resources, Advocacy

Vicki was named Executive Director in 2008. She has worked on behalf of people with disabilities since 1988 when her own daughter was born with Rett Syndrome. She worked for The Arc of King County and the Bellevue School District, prior to joining Community Homes. Vicki holds an MBA from the University of Washington and a Master’s Certificate in Organizational Dynamics from Antioch University. Vicki has served on the Board of Directors for Tavon Learning Center and Kindering Center.

Alyssa Midgley

Director of Services

Main responsibilities:
Operations, Care Provider Support, Property Management

Alyssa has over 20 years of experience in community-based care for adults with developmental disabilities. Prior to her current position, she was the licensed care provider for one of Community Homes’ houses, providing 24-hour residential care for five residents. She joined the Community Homes administrative team as a program coordinator in 2008 and was promoted to director in 2017. She holds a BA in Psychology and Business Management from Whitworth College and a certificate in management from Open University in Leeds, England.

Helene Wentink

Advancement Director

Main responsibilities:
Fundraising Activities, Public Relations & Communication

Helene brings her passion for people with disabilities to the organization, joining Community Homes first as a board member in 2010 and then as the first fundraising staff member in June, 2014. She holds a B.A. in Communication/Editorial Journalism from the University of Washington and a Master’s in Nonprofit Leadership through Seattle University.

Cindy Wilkins

Operations Manager

Cindy, having been raised with a sibling with developmental disabilities, has a heart to touch as many lives as possible; giving them hope for a dignified, independent, bright future. Her 15 years in the nonprofit arena has enabled her to share passion for people. Prior to accepting a position at Community Homes, she was the Executive Director of a successful nonprofit in Grand Prairie, Texas. Her transition from Texas to Washington State pointed her toward Community Homes, Inc.

Cathy Murahashi

Education & Outreach Manager

Cathy Murahashi joined Community Homes in January 2020 after 18 years of services to The Arc of King County, where she supported families, developed trainings and curriculum and was a dedicated legislative advocate for services and the rights of people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Her passion for serving people with ID/DD is fueled by her young adult daughter, Holly who has Down Syndrome and her vision for her to live, work, learn and play in ordinary places in the community.

Annie Puchar

Housing Coordinator

Annie is the licensed care provider at our Redmond Adult Family Home for men. She has worked in the medical field for 22 years with 13 years of experience working with developmental disabilities. In addition to running the AFH, she joined the admin team in 2018 to manage our Respite Program for care providers.

Jim Forbes

Finance Manager

Jim joined Community Homes in 2013 after a enjoying a 30-year career at the Boeing Company in several Financial Management positions. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Washington State University and a Master’s degree in Business from Pacific Lutheran University.

He and his wife, Sherrie, have two children – Lisa and Brad. Lisa, who has Down’s Syndrome, lives in the Redmond women’s home within the Community Homes portfolio.

Jim enjoys family time and active sports including, walking, running, and playing basketball.

Tom Bartholomew

President

Tom Bartholomew’s son Sam, 27, has an intellectual disability due to a congenital brain malformation. Luckily, Sam’s family was introduced to Community Homes when he was in high school. Since 2017, Sam has lived as rich and meaningful a life as you could want, working at Microsoft, excelling at Special Olympics sports, and living in a Community Homes-supported house with an amazing caregiver and two of his best friends. He makes a wicked risotto. Tom joined the Community Homes board of directors in 2016 and has served as its president since 2018.

Rush Riese

Board Member – In Memoriam

Rush joined the board in 2017. After obtaining his law degree from the University of Washington in 1977, he entered the title insurance and escrow industry and worked for 35 years as in-house counsel and in management positions for several major national underwriters. Rush is currently a member of the Washington State Bar Association and on the board of a manufacturing company in Spokane. He enjoys boating, fishing, traveling and spending time with his family.

Curtis Young

Treasurer

Curtis joined the board in 2006. He has 35 years in the financial services industry as a portfolio manager and Certified Financial Planner. Curtis and his wife, Nancy, are the parents of Andrew, a resident of Community Homes Woodinville AFH.

Marcie Hinthorne

Vice President

Marcie joined the board in 2017. After 23 years at the University of Washington as the Director for Planned Giving, she recently joined The Nature Conservancy as the Pacific Northwest Regional Gift Strategist. In both roles, Marcie works assisting people who are passionate about the mission of an organization. She creates gifting plans to assist people donating complicated assets, establish a charitable trust or annuity and including the UW or TNC in their estate plans. Marcie earned a joint MBA and law degree from the University of Oklahoma. She has experience working with real estate construction and development, securities regulations and investments. Marcie has been a longtime volunteer and admires the impact non-profit organizations make in our community. She would love to travel more, become a better photographer and a better chef, but mostly values time with her husband, Brad, and their two sons, Adam and Ben.

John Smiley

Past President

John is a retired Boeing Information Technology manager. His passion for community-based housing for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities is a direct result of their family’s positive experience with their daughter. “I want other families to experience the joy of watching their child grow their independence and self-reliance by living in their own home.”

Lisa Soli

Board Member

Lisa Soli has been on the board since 2009. She retired from the Bellevue School District in 2015 after 37 years in education as a teacher, counselor and administrator. She holds a BA in Special Education and has a Masters in Community Mental Health. Lisa is active with the Community Homes auction committee.

Sarah Sherertz Vogt

Secretary

Sarah joined the board in 2011. She has worked at Microsoft since 2000, currently as GM HR for Corporate Strategy, Core Services Engineering & Operations (CS, CSEO). After working globally for Microsoft in Australia, Singapore and South East Asia, she returned to Seattle in 2010. Sarah holds a BS in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University. Sarah became involved with the intellectual and developmental disability community following the birth of her youngest sister and has remained an advocate for the I/DD community for over 3 decades. Her sister now lives in one of Community Homes Shared Living Homes. In her spare time, she and her husband are busy trying to keep up with their two young boys, and occasionally fitting in cooking, yoga, and hiking in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Lynn Chittenden

Board Member

Lynn Chittenden joined the board in 2014. Lynn has a MFA from IADE, a Design and Architecture school in Madrid, Spain. Her business career has been in commercial office design, marketing, senior living and most recently teaching Spanish at the Bear Creek School. Lynn has been involved in the Disability Community since the birth of her son, David, in 1995.. She spearheaded a group for families of children with Down syndrome for 10 years, and has been active in the DD community for many years. Her passions are languages, travel, and helping people with DD achieve independence through community living.

Mark Morgenstern

Board Member

Mark is president and CEO of MorningStar Behavioral Health, PLLC, in Bothell, providing individual, group and family counseling and positive behavioral support services to a diverse range of clients, including children & adults with cognitive/developmental disabilities. Prior to founding MorningStar Behavioral Health, PLLC, Mark had nearly 20 years of experience providing social services within a number of DSHS administrations (Developmental Disabilities Administration, Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration, and Children’s Administration). He also served in the United States Army Reserve, retiring in 2019 as Transportation Officer with the rank of Captain. Mark resides in Bothell with his wife Kimberly.