Anvers Housing was founded in 2004 by Barbara and Maurice O’Connell, in response to a persistent and previously unmet need to secure dedicated housing for people living with an acquired brain injury, within their own communities.

The name of the organisation was inspired by its first property: a house belonging to Barbara’s brother, Peter Bradley, and formerly to her Grandmother, who named it after her native home in Anvers – Antwerp, Belgium.

When Peter acquired two brain injuries by the age of 42 he found himself no longer able to live independently. In the absence of any more suitable accommodation to meet his needs, he was transferred to a nursing home for older people. In 2001, with the support of Barbara and Maurice, Peter moved into ‘Anvers’ – an Assisted Living property in Glenageary, County Dublin.

Within six months, Peter went from sleeping and watching television all day in a locked environment to being out in the community, using local shops, the bank and other amenities efficiently. With the right support, in the right environment, Peter’s needs decreased.

Sadly there are many survivors of brain injury like Peter who continue to find themselves misplaced in nursing homes and community hospitals, due to a lack of appropriate accommodation. They and their families require a range of services and supports on the pathway from hospital to home, to increase their participation, independence, and potential in life.

Our experience of working with service providers in the provision of specialist housing options is that there is a gap in knowledge around the requirements that maximise the quality of life and the rehabilitation potential of people with brain injury.

We needed to do something to address that gap.

Working in partnership with Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, Anvers Housing now provides community-based housing with support for people living with an acquired brain injury in five counties in Ireland. The organisation continues to grow.