The essence of our communities is this ‘living with.’ We are called, certainly, to serve with all our ability and to help those who are weaker to develop, but the foundation of this helping is found in friendship and the communion of hearts, which allows us all to grow.               

- Jean Vanier, L'Arche founder

The heartbeat of L’Arche is energized by the shared life between persons with developmental disabilities and those without as they commit to relationship in community. 

The first L'Arche community in the United States was founded in 1972 in Erie, Pennsylvania. Today, L’Arche USA includes 16 communities located in Iowa, Virginia, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, Kansas, Alabama, Massachusetts, Washington, Oregon, New York, California and Washington D.C., as well as two emerging communities in Missouri and Georgia.

Each community is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, and is governed by its own board of directors and managed by caring and professional staff. L'Arche communities are united through their membership in the International Federation of L'Arche.