The Protected House
2007 – days of Kasam missiles, incredible tension and constant danger. The city of Sderot is under daily attack. Residents cower in their homes, not leaving the house unless they absolutely have to. The missile alert – Tzeva Adom! – COLOR RED! – blares across the city every few hours, while families are sleeping, while children are running to school, while the elderly are sharing a meal and while parents are in the shower. Everyone runs for safe cover until the missiles pass. Parents are frantic, children are terrified – the city is under attack.
A rented apartment on Sderot’s HaTamar street houses 10 mentally retarded adults. During the mornings they work in Sderot’s Protected Factory. They return every afternoon to their “Protected Home” but their apartment lacks protection from missiles. The home residents, men and women between the ages of 23 and 50, hear the Tzeva Adom alert and try to reach a safe place within 10 seconds. The only spot that offers them protection is far, and small. Most of them can not reach the protected space before the missile lands. They spend their days in constant anxiety and their physical and mental health deteriorates.
For 10 years, the Gvanim Association has provided protected housing for Sderot’s mentally retarded adults. For most of those 10 years, Sderot has been under sporadic missile fire, and the worry and responsibility Gvanim feels for the residents mounts to an unbearable peak until a decision is made:
In light of the escalating security crisis, Gvanim will rush plans for construction of a new protected housing complex for mentally retarded adults. The complex will be constructed within Sderot’s urban kibbutz, Kibbutz Migvan, and will include full protection from missile attacks, protection that the residents deserve and need.
Gvanim was able to secure 80% of the construction costs before starting the project and believed that the remaining 20% would be received from donors who understood the importance and the immediacy of the project. The construction started… and then the world was hit by an economic tsunami, taking with it the fortunes of some and the ability of many to help with such a large project.
In Sderot, missiles were still falling daily; Gvanim voted to continue construction of the protected housing, knowing that doing so without guaranteed funding was irresponsible but that leaving members of Sderot’s disabled population in danger would be more so.
Gvanim’s new housing for mentally retarded adults was constructed within Sderot’s urban kibbutz, Kibbutz Migvan. The supported housing unit is the highlight of the association’s principle of community integration for people with disabilities.
Today the new housing unit is home to 13 residents who are truly protected from danger. Gvanim has been left with a hole in its pocket and a dept of $200,000 – we need your help.
We have a donor who has pledged $100,000 to the project if other donors are found to match his gift. Every shekel, euro or dollar that you can give to reach this goal will be significant and valued. We call on your kindness, generosity and your belief that all members of society have value and deserve a safe place to live.
Thank you.
