Meet Carol

My name is Carol. I have anxiety, panic attacks and depression. I have been coming to PROS since the beginning of 2019. Over the last 5 years, I have learned many things about my diagnosis and skills to cope with my symptoms. Growing up, I had a hard childhood – which I’m working hard to… Continue Reading Meet Carol

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Check out our winter Spirit newsletter

Unity House’s Spirit newsletter is published three times a year in winter, spring and fall. The most recent edition of our newsletter is arriving in mailboxes beginning February 27 and includes stories of hope, recent program happenings, a letter from CEO Liz Smith, and so much more. If you’re wondering what we’ve been up to recently, you won’t want to miss it. If you’d like to be added to our email list, please visit unityhouse.org/connect and key in your contact information. Continue Reading Check out our winter Spirit newsletter

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Unity House wellness programs save employee’s life

Photo of Elspeth Peterson

Elspeth Peterson has been taking advantage of Unity House’s biometric screening since it was first offered 14 years ago. She liked that Unity House offered incentives, including extra time off, to encourage employees to record their weight, complete bloodwork and track other health indicators. “It was kind of a routine thing,” she said. “I didn’t… Continue Reading Unity House wellness programs save employee’s life

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Set Up for Success: Empowering Our Workforce

When local community colleges began offering credentialing courses to direct support professionals last fall, Unity House DSPs were first in line.

At Tompkins Cortland Community College, all 15 seats were filled by Unity House staff members, said Patty Tvaroha, professor of human services.

“It has been a blessing, I think, to have them all be Unity House people,” Tvaroha said. “They are creating their own natural support system.” Continue Reading Set Up for Success: Empowering Our Workforce

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Remembering Gerry

Gerry Hodnett was an artist with a following.

“There was something very special about Gerry,” said his sister, Sandy Arden. “He made friends wherever he went and he even touched people he didn’t meet.

When Gerry died at age 74 last year, Sandy was devastated, and so were his closest friends. Among them were his housemates at Unity House’s Sheffield Road residence, where he lived since 2011. Continue Reading Remembering Gerry

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Eight Auburn Day Hab participants celebrate completion of self-advocacy program

Self-advocacy graduate Heather Rafferty holds a certificate on-stage alongside Dan Flanigan.

Heather Rafferty is a singer and a dancer. She loves cats and music. And she knows what she wants in life – a home and a family of her own. Today, her dreams are one step closer to reality, thanks to SANYS-U. The six-week course, led by the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State, helps… Continue Reading Eight Auburn Day Hab participants celebrate completion of self-advocacy program

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Unity House CEO seeks help with challenges, opportunities in 2024

Thank you for being among Unity House’s supporters. In this new year, we’ll need your help more than ever to empower people with disabilities. That’s why I want to share with you the major challenges and opportunities ahead. Our greatest challenge remains staffing. Because state funding for our work has fallen behind inflation for well… Continue Reading Unity House CEO seeks help with challenges, opportunities in 2024

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Care about people with disabilities? Urge state leaders to adequately fund supports and services

On Jan. 17, Gov. Hochul will release her 2024-25 Executive Budget. That means there’s still time to make your voice heard. Last year, organizations like Unity House pushed for: The wage enhancement didn’t pass and the COLA approved was just 4% – far below the rate of inflation. Every day, Unity House DSPs empower more than… Continue Reading Care about people with disabilities? Urge state leaders to adequately fund supports and services

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