History of EMAN Community Living

The Agency was begun in 1972 as the result of efforts by neighbors belonging to the East Mount Airy Neighbors Association. An arm of the civic association,  EMAN Group Homes, purchased four houses to become residences for members of the East Mount Airy community with developmental disabilities. Each of the four original homes accommodated up to six individuals. The opening of these homes anticipated the beginning of the movement toward deinstitutionalization that would eventually see the closing of the Pennhurst Center. In the 1980s, the Agency added a number of apartments in the Chestnut Hill Village complex to meet a growing need for residential living arrangements and services.

Beginning in 1993, another burst of expansion took place. The Agency bought the building, which houses its administrative offices, from its parent organization, EMAN, Inc. A number of accessible ranch homes were purchased in the Roxborough and Andorra sections of the city to accommodate a number of individuals moving back to Philadelphia as the Embreeville Center was being closed. The census of individuals being served grew to 54 individuals at one point in time. At the present time, 32 individuals receive residential services in community living.