Three Auburn IRAs to join Unity House

Unity House is growing to support the residents of three group homes for people with disabilities in Auburn.

The homes, known as IRAs (independent residential alternative), have been operated for years by Kelberman, a nonprofit based in Utica. In October, representatives of the state Office for People with Developmental Disabilities asked Unity House to assume responsibility for the homes. Unity House’s board of directors endorsed the change after a thorough review of their operations, said CEO Darlene Podolak.

“These IRAs need better training, better processes and more consistent, experienced leadership,” Darlene said. “We have 33 years of experience operating IRAs in this community. We’re taking on this new responsibility because we have the capacity to do it well, and because it’s our mission.”

“I trust Unity House. I feel like I can talk to anybody here.”
-Donna Clark

Darlene and a dozen other Unity House staff leaders hosted an informal gathering in January for family members of the homes’ 11 residents. Attendees asked questions about the transition for more than two hours.

“I’m very optimistic,” said Julie Carlton, who attended with her husband, Dan. Their son Kevin lives in one of the homes. “I like that [Unity House] is local and that their program is consistent across all of their homes.”

Donna Clark said that the change of auspices is long overdue. Her son Robbie lives in one of the homes. Robbie and Donna know Unity House because he has been attending Unity House’s Day Hab program for 27 years and Donna served on the board of directors from 2016 to 2021.

“Robbie’s been saying things like, ‘I can’t wait,’” Donna said.