Glen Rock's First 'Very Special Home' Makes Its Debut

GLEN ROCK, NJ – Township officials recently joined Bergen County's Division of Community Development, the New Jersey Department of Community Development, Bergen County's United Way/Madeline Corporation and REED Next to celebrate the completion of Glen Rock’s first "Very Special Home."

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Wednesday at the Bradford Street property, a four-bedroom home for autistic individuals, which was a partnership between the five entities.

Tom Toronto, President of Bergen County’s United Way, said, "We are excited to see the home completed. It was a long road and the Glen Rock community supported us throughout including all our neighbors on “bungalow” row who regularly stopped by during construction to tell us how pleased they were with the design of the home and our progress. I know the home’s residents will be warmly welcomed into the neighborhood when move in begins over the next couple of weeks.”

According to Bergen County's United Way, "Very Special Homes" are designed to bring safe, independent and affordable housing options to those with physical and developmental disabilities such as autism, multiple sclerosis or Down's syndrome.

In 2005, Bergen County's United Way, in partnership with the Madeline Corporation, a second generation, non-profit affordable housing developer, developed the concept of "special homes for very special people."

Since then, more than 300 units of affordable housing in 25 separate projects have been developed, with several more in the pipeline, according to United Way.

With over 60 years of service, Bergen County's United Way/Madeline Corporation is a non-profit organization with a mission to build safe and affordable housing for seniors, veterans and individuals with special needs.

For more information or to make a donation, visit www.bergenunitedway.org.