--- title: Seasons of Independence, Recognition, and Community description: Discover how The G House offers a nurturing, inclusive community for families with disabilities, and learn how you can join this innovative housing movement. image: https://blog.thegcommunity.org/hubfs/IMG_1895%20(1).jpeg --- [Skip to content](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/a-season-of-independence-gratitude-and-community#main-content) Aug 24, 2025 7:23:05 PM # Seasons of Independence, Recognition, and Community ![Picture of Barbara and Eric Levin](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_7560.jpeg?width=50&name=IMG_7560.jpeg) [Barbara and Eric Levin](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/author/barbara-and-eric-levin) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.thegcommunity.org/a-season-of-independence-gratitude-and-community) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.thegcommunity.org/a-season-of-independence-gratitude-and-community) [Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.thegcommunity.org/a-season-of-independence-gratitude-and-community) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://blog.thegcommunity.org/a-season-of-independence-gratitude-and-community) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://blog.thegcommunity.org/a-season-of-independence-gratitude-and-community) - ![IMG_1197](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_1197.jpeg?width=5712&height=4284&name=IMG_1197.jpeg) Sunset Cannon Beach Oregon June 2025 - ![IMG_2259](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_2259.jpeg?width=5712&height=4284&name=IMG_2259.jpeg) The G House 4th of July Independence Celebration 2025 - ![IMG_1696](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_1696.jpeg?width=5334&height=3531&name=IMG_1696.jpeg) Bengt Levin Sandcastle competition Cannon Beach Oregon - UBU - Winner Teen Division We hope your summer was full of good things—family reunions, beach days, mountain views, or just a little extra time to slow down. Our summer travel would not have been possible without Toney, Colby, and the incredible G community. Their care and presence allowed us to step away knowing that the G House was in loving, capable hands. That kind of support is rare—and we don’t take it for granted. Now, as fall settles in and school routines return, we’re taking time to reflect on what this season means, and what we’re building together. --- **From Families to Community** This summer, we’ve spent time with dozens of families. Some we met over coffee, others at their kitchen tables. The stories vary, but the heart of them is the same. Families have invested deeply—financially, emotionally, physically—into housing solutions, therapies, and long-term care. Many have tried group homes, solo apartments, or living support systems that never fully felt right. Most of us are older now, and the question is becoming urgent: *What happens when we’re no longer here?* What we all want is continuity. Stability. Peace of mind. A stable, nurturing place that mirrors the love and structure our children have always known at home. --- **A Model That’s Gaining Ground** The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services [(NCDHHS) has recognized the G House as an innovative model](https://www.ncdhhs.gov/about/department-initiatives/inclusion-connects/inclusion-connects-community-living#FindHousing-7430)—and they’ve asked for more homes like it. That recognition matters: it shows that even at the state level, there’s an urgent need for alternatives to outdated institutions and the lack of new group homes. We’re proud to stand with all who are building inclusive housing for the IDD community. The G House is not an institution—it’s a real home. Built on the simple idea that people with disabilities deserve to live in family-style settings, it offers dignity, stability, and community. Federal law (Olmstead v. L.C.) and the recent Samantha R. ruling in North Carolina affirm this shift: housing must be inclusive, person-centered, and integrated. That’s exactly what the G House provides. It’s sustainable. It’s personal. And it fills a deep gap in the system that NCDHHS itself has acknowledged. --- **What’s Next** We’re building a [priority list](https://thegcommunity.org/live-work) of families interested in co-creating the next G House. We closed on GHouse 2.0 our Durham home July 8th and are actively designing the Chapel Hill build. But this isn’t just about buildings—it’s about *belonging*. We’re creating a small village where real friendships can grow, where daily life feels joyful and supported, and where no one has to walk the journey alone. We’re so grateful to the families who’ve already joined us. Their stories echo our own. And together, we’re proving that something better is possible. This isn’t charity. It’s community. It’s legacy. And it’s already happening. If you're curious or ready to take the next step, reach out. Let’s build what’s next. Together.  Eric and Barbara Levin    [eric@theghouse.org](mailto:eric@theghouse.org) [barbara@theghouse.org](mailto:barbara@theghouse.org) 910-528-8116 Building Together. Community. [thegcommunity.org](http://thegcommunity.org/) [Independence](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/tag/independence) ## Related posts [![The G Day @ Carolina](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/hs-fs/hubfs/GDAY%20BASEBALL%20GAME%20APRIL/IMG_5775.jpeg?height=200&name=IMG_5775.jpeg)](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/five-families-one-home-a-system-built-to-last) [G House 2.0](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/tag/g-house-2-0), [Independence](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/tag/independence), [The G Day](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/tag/the-g-day), [Building Community](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/tag/building-community) ## [Five Families, One Home, a System Built to Last](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/five-families-one-home-a-system-built-to-last) ![Picture of Eric Levin](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_7998.jpeg?width=50&name=IMG_7998.jpeg) [Eric Levin](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/author/eric-levin) Apr 22, 2026 4:31:00 PM There are moments when something you've been building quietly starts to feel real. Not in a... [Read more](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/five-families-one-home-a-system-built-to-last) [![](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_8326.jpeg?height=200&name=IMG_8326.jpeg)](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/solving-for-g-together) [Event](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/tag/event), [Building Community](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/tag/building-community) ## [Solving for G, Together](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/solving-for-g-together) [Barbara Levin](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/author/barbara-levin) Feb 14, 2026 4:56:57 PM [Read more](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/solving-for-g-together) [![Sunrise at 406 Homestead Road](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_0267.jpeg?height=200&name=IMG_0267.jpeg)](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/turning-the-page-into-year-three-at-the-g-house-we-dont-need-to-fix-everything-ourselves) [G House 2.0](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/tag/g-house-2-0), [G House 1.1](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/tag/g-house-1-1) ## [Turning the Page into Year Three at The G House: We Don’t Need to Fix Everything Ourselves](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/turning-the-page-into-year-three-at-the-g-house-we-dont-need-to-fix-everything-ourselves) [Barbara Levin](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/author/barbara-levin) Jul 11, 2025 8:40:45 AM What started as an idea and a place to help our son, Gunnar, and others like him feel truly seen,... [Read more](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/turning-the-page-into-year-three-at-the-g-house-we-dont-need-to-fix-everything-ourselves) --- [![navbar-brand-1](https://blog.thegcommunity.org/hubfs/navbar-brand-1.svg "navbar-brand-1")](https://blog.thegday.org) [support@thegcommunity.org](mailto:support@thegcommunity.org) +1 (910) 528-8116 406 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27516 back to [home](https://blog.thegcommunity.org) (blog.thegcommunity.org) back to [thegcommunity.org](https://thegcommunity.org) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Barbara and Eric Levin", "url" : "https://blog.thegcommunity.org/author/barbara-and-eric-levin" }, "dateModified" : "2025-08-24T23:32:27.189Z", "datePublished" : "2025-08-24T23:23:05.000Z", "headline" : "Seasons of Independence, Recognition, and Community", "image" : [ "https://blog.thegcommunity.org/hubfs/IMG_1895%20(1).jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.thegcommunity.org/a-season-of-independence-gratitude-and-community", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.thegcommunity.org/hubfs/android-chrome-512x512-1.png" }, "name" : "The G House LLC" } } ```