Promise Community Homes is honored to serve the specialized housing needs of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities for nearly 60 years. But what exactly is an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD)?

An intellectual or developmental disability is often defined as "significant limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior." This can shape things like conceptual (language, reading, number concepts), social (communication, interpersonal relationships, social judgment), and practical (personal care, money management, routines) skills.

One of the most important things note about a person with IDD is that they deserve the same basic human rights as anyone else, including the right to home. Yet people with IDD continue to face significant financial and societal barriers to securing accessible lifelong housing. That’s why Promise Community Homes remains committed to its mission, ensuring people with IDD have the same opportunities for safe, affordable, and well-maintained homes where they can truly thrive.

Longtime PCH resident and avid American flag lover, Mary, was greeted with a a special surprise earlier this week.

In honor of Labor Day and Mary's affinity for American flags, the PCH team lined the sidewalk in front of Mary's house with flags!

Mary loved the flags and the PCH team was so excited to be able to provide this special surprise for one of our residents.

As summer begins to wind down (Hypothetically. That summer sun is still blazing!), we wanted to take a look back on this past season that was one for the books! Join us in taking a stroll down memory lane at some of our summer 2026 highlights, like

🦆 Officially welcoming Lord Gerard “Gary” Featherby as the official PCH Front Desk Goose/Office Manager
☀ Hosting @lifebridgestl Summer Camps once again in our fully accessible Community Center
🏫 Closing on the land where we will build our brand-new multi-unit apartment building, expanding specialized, lifelong housing opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the St. Louis area
🚲 Coming together to build children’s bikes for St. Louis BWorks Earn-a-Bike program during the all-staff retreat
✨ Getting groovy at our annual Trivia Night: Disco Edition, which helped raised imperative funds to support our mission
🏠 Closing on a new house in Jefferson County that will become the forever home for three new residents
💙 Continuing to provide affordable, accessible, and well-maintained lifelong homes for 300 residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the St. Louis area

We hope you had a great summer, too. Have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!

Now’s the time to lock in your sponsorship for Promise Community Homes’ largest annual fundraiser, The Gala: Gin & Jazz! ✨🎷🍸

This year we’re going from the 2020s to the 1920s as we tip our hats off to the Prohibition Era, and we’re looking for partners who want to help make this event unforgettable and impactful.

Sponsors of The Gala are invited to join us for a roaring good time at Gatsby Events on October 23, complete with bootleg-worthy cocktails, gourmet dinner, exciting live and silent auctions, and more, all while supporting affordable, accessible, and inclusive lifelong housing for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In addition, sponsors will receive prime recognition both leading up to and during the event.

The Gala: Gin & Jazz is sure to be the bee’s knees, so don’t wait and register today at pchstl.org/gala!

We talk all the time about how our Maintenance Team works hard to provide our residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities with safe, affordable, and well-maintained lifelong neighborhood homes. But how exactly do they do that?

Swipe through for a glimpse into the everyday tasks performed by PCH's Maintenance Technicians that help keep home environments healthy, stable, and accessible for residents with IDD!

Last week, Promise Community Homes closed on another house in Jefferson County! 🏠🔑

This purchase brings our Jefferson County home count to 6, and (most importantly) will be the new forever home for up to three adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

We couldn't continue to increase our service to adults with IDD in Jefferson County without great partners such as Developmental Disability Advocates and the Jefferson Foundation. Thank you partners, for your continued commitment to affordable and accessible lifelong housing for adults with IDD!

#accessiblehousing #affordablehousing #jeffco #jeffersoncountymo #IDD #IDDCommunity

August 26 is National Dog Day!

To celebrate National Dog Day, we're highlighting staff members' pups that got to visit the office during PCH's Dog Days of Summer Fridays.

We were thrilled to host esteemed guests Carl, Raya, Poppy, Sadie, and Sugar this summer.

Happy National Dog Day to these VIPs (Very Important Pups)! 🐾

#NationalDogDay #DogDaysOfSummer #OfficeDogs

The siding of this St. Louis County home is getting a major upgrade!

After years of serving as the house's primary barrier against weather, pests, and other outdoor elements, the siding is getting a much-needed update.

New siding will provide a much stronger barrier against extreme weather, increase energy efficiency, and protect the structural integrity, so that 3 residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities can continue living safely and comfortably in the house they call home.

PCH Board Executive Committee Spotlight: Meet Treasurer Mike Letz!

Mike first became acquainted with Promise Community Homes in the early 2010s through his banking job, assisting the organization with financial strategy. Over the years, Mike was introduced to PCH’s leadership and joined the Golf Tournament Committee before eventually joining the Board and becoming Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair.

“Joining the Board felt like a perfect fit for me,” Mike said. “Growing up, I saw firsthand the impact my father made through his fundraising efforts for Special Olympics, and I was drawn to PCH's similar mission-driven work in the community.”

With a background in real estate and banking, Mike brings valuable expertise in housing, development, and community investment to PCH, helping advance the organization’s commitment to stable, affordable, and accessible homes for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

When asked about his favorite PCH memory, Mike recalled the first Gala event he attended, where he really got to see and understand the impact that PCH makes in residents’ lives (and attend a great dance party!).

Thank you, Mike, for your dedicated leadership and commitment to decreasing housing inequities for adults with IDD!

Last Tuesday, Promise Community Homes staff members gathered for an all-day staff retreat to realign on organizational goals, strengthen communication, and reconnect with purpose.

Then, staff ended the day by turning the Conference Room into a bike building workshop! Staff members paired off to build bicycles for St. Louis BWorks' Earn-a-Bike program, which provides children with free bikes after learning about bicycle safety and maintenance.

Check out some photos from our afternoon of bicycle assembly!