Protected Housing

Independent housing for people with disabilities enables them to take responsibility for their own lives and develop as individuals.  Sderot’s apartment for people with physical, emotional and cognitive disabilities provides protected housing for people who are capable of living on their own when accompanied by a mentor or house parent. Ten residents live in Sderot’s protected apartment and manage their home as a cooperative.  They work in the mornings in the Protected Factory and participate in Sderot’s Rainbow Center activities in the afternoons. 

Gvanim has operated protected housing in Sderot since 1999, always in a rented apartment.  In 2008 Gvanim is constructing a permanent apartment complex for people with disabilities.  It is being built in Sderot’s urban kibbutz, Migvan, as part of their neighborhood.  Many of Gvanim’s founders are from Kibbutz Migvan and integrating the complex into their kibbutz is an expression of their beliefs and values regarding community integration and improvement.   

The building design was drawn up by a professional staff with the future residents of the housing complex, to ensure that their needs and dreams will be met.  The new home will be able to house six more disabled adults.

The structure will be protected from Kasam rocket attacks, as required.  Sderot has suffered from a continuous and intensifying security crisis since 2001 – to date (March 2008), more than 5,000 rockets have fallen on or near Sderot and an end to the crisis is not yet in sight.

News July 2009: A strong community and a strong roof overhead