New Hope for Survivors with Disabilities in Japan

Since the March, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, AmeriCares has invested nearly $1.3 million to fund dozens of projects that support evacuees and assist people with disabilities.When the giant wave hit Ofunato City, the residents of the Momiji home were miles away at their jobs. But the disaster ripped the tight-knit group apart. Their group home was destroyed and the men had to live separately with elderly parents, in cramped temporary housing or with other relatives ill-equipped to serve as caretakers for people with disabilities.Now, the group is living together again in a brand new home built with funding from AmeriCares. To date, we have invested nearly $1.3 million to fund dozens of projects in Japan that support evacuees and assist people with disabilities.For relatives not accustomed to caring full-time for adults with disabilities, move-in day marked the end of a stressful chapter. Some of the men were living temporarily in apartments near schools where schoolchildren taunted them. Others stayed inside all day, too fearful to venture outside.Grant supports construction of group home to replace destroyed facilityTheir new home provides residents with plenty of light and space. Most importantly, the building is designed to meet the needs of residents living with disabilities.“Thanks to the great assistance from AmeriCares and warm cooperation from people in the community, I am sure that the men of Group Home Momiji will enjoy their new life,”says Sayako Nogiwa of Association for Aid and Relief, Japan, AmeriCares partner in the Momiji home project.Learn more about our Japan recovery work here.Read MoreDonate Now