What We Do

Friendship Ark Homes and Community Services is a community-based organization that serves adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. We were started from a grassroots movement of families working to develop supports to meet the diverse needs of individuals seeking community services.

Friendship Ark Homes and Community Services has continued to grow and evolve along with the changing needs and issues people with disabilities and their families face. Governed by a volunteer board of directors and managed by key staff, we work passionately to uphold our vision that individuals served have access to information, skills and participation as active citizens of our community.

Friendship Ark Homes and Community Services has a demonstrated record of success in achieving the outcomes as outlined in individual plans. Our staff and volunteers are vital in providing the supports and services crucial to achieving these goals. Our organization offers services that are personalized to meet the needs of the individual. We rely on the principles that the organization was founded on while staying relevant today.

A Few Facts about Friendship Ark

• Incorporated in 1999; started serving adults with disabilities in 2000
• Total number of core members served: 29 in 24-hour group homes; 9 in Intermediate Living and 15 in hourly Supported Community Living
• Current waiting list has over 50 referrals for 24-hour and/or hourly SCL supports
• Employ over 80 full-time and part-time staff
• Annual operating budget of over $4,600,000
• Mortgage free on all properties
• 3-Year Accreditation (highest given) from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehab Facilities (CARF)
• Services fees are paid for by the Home and Community Based Services Waiver through Medicaid
• An endowment established through the Story County Community Foundation makes donors eligible for the
  Endow Iowa Tax Credit
• Construction of our sixth 24-hour home was completed in the fall of 2020, allowing us to welcome five new core members from our waiting list
• Our first Intermediate SCL home opened in 2021, providing a living arrangement for members who have left 24-hour services but would like more support than can be offered through the Individualized SCL program and the second one welcomed its first core members in the fall of 2023, bringing our total number of homes to eight.