When Pete talks about where he lives now, he doesn’t mention a program or an address.
“I’m home,” he says.
That simple word carries the weight of a long journey, one shaped by independence, change, and the courage to begin again. Like everyone else, Pete’s life has evolved over time. What makes his story special is not that it changed, but that his voice remained at the center of every decision. Over more than two decades with KenCrest, Pete has experienced both Supported Independent Living and Community Living. His story shows how the right support, at the right time, can help someone continue living a life that feels like their own.
For more than 20 years, Pete lived independently through KenCrest’s Supported Independent Living (SIL) program in his own apartment in Quakertown. Before that, he had lived in a community living home, but he knew early on what he wanted for his life.
“I just wasn’t happy there,” Pete shared. “I knew I would be happier living on my own.”
With the right supports in place, Pete built a life rooted in choice and routine. SIL gave him the freedom to manage his own space, make his own decisions, and live in a way that reflected who he is, while still having a trusted team nearby when he needed help.
As Pete grew older, his needs changed. Recent health challenges made it harder for him to remain safe, living fully on his own. For Pete, the idea of returning to a community living home was not easy. He didn’t want to lose his independence, something that was always important to him.
Rather than seeing this moment as a step backward, Pete and his team focused on what mattered most to him: respect, choice, and connection. They searched for a place where he could continue to grow, not just receive care. That search led him to Magnolia Avenue.
At his first meeting with the men who live there, something clicked. “They hit it off right away,” says Tia Gibbs, the Assistant Director of PA Homes for KenCrest. “He was ready to move in that day!”
With the coordinated efforts of KenCrest’s SIL and Philadelphia Residential teams, Pete moved into the Magnolia Avenue Community Living Arrangement (CLA) on December 16.
“I love my new home,” Pete shared. “I feel safe here.”
From the beginning, Pete made Magnolia his own. He personalized his bedroom and settled into routines that bring him joy.
“I like sleeping in when I want,” he said. “I can watch TV and go out when I feel like it.”
Community Living has given Pete something different from SIL—not less, but what fits his life now. SIL gave Pete the foundation to build his adult life through independence and self-direction. Community Living now offers daily connection, shared experiences, and the reassurance that support is there when he needs it.
What stands out most about Pete’s transition is how it has helped him grow. His confidence has increased, and he now has a renewed sense of purpose. What he experienced was not simply a change of address; it was a return to living fully. Each day in his new home reinforces that he made the right move.
Pete’s transition from Supported Independent Living to Community Living was not just a move. It was a continuation of his life and a reflection of how support can evolve as a person’s needs change. His journey highlights the importance of having multiple support options as people age, and of having an organization that can walk alongside them through every stage.
People’s needs may change over time, but their desire for dignity, purpose, and choice does not. KenCrest’s ability to offer both Supported Independent Living and Community Living means individuals do not have to start over when life changes. They can remain within a system that knows them, respects their history, and adapts with them.
For Pete, this shift was not about giving something up. It was about gaining what he needed to keep living fully.
“Now when I talk about where I live,” Pete said, “I tell people I’m home.”
And that word says everything.
Pete’s story shows what’s possible when support grows with the person. Learn how KenCrest’s Supported Independent Living and Community Living programs help people build meaningful lives at every stage.
