Ribbon Cutting - DeLaCerda House
Date and Time
Wednesday Oct 9, 2019
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM CDT
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Donor Reception. (By invitation only)
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Public Open House. Refreshments and light hors d’oeuvres will be served
Location
1219 3rd Avenue
Rock Island, IL 61201
Description
DeLaCerda House, Inc. will celebrate the Grand Reopening of Robb’s House on Wednesday, October 9 at 3:30 p.m. A schedule of events is as follows:
3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Donor Reception. (By invitation only)
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Public Open House. Refreshments and light hors d’oeuvres will be served
DeLaCerda House is a special needs housing organization serving the Quad Cities area. Founded in 1994, their mission is to provide housing, essential advocacy services, and progressive case management for persons living with HIV/AIDS.
In 1995, a single family home was purchased and renovated to meet the challenging needs of peiople in the community who were dying of AIDS. Countless volunteers worked quickly to ensure this home would open as quickly as possible. Among the many volunteers was Robb Dusslere. Robb Dussliere was well known in the Quad Cities for his advocacy and education about AIDS. The award-winning documentary “Robb's Life” featured Robb Dussliere as he lived with AIDS from April 1995 until his death in 1996. Robb worked tirelessly to help renovate and prepare the house to welcome guests. Sadly, he died one month before the house was opened. To honor Robb's legacy, DeLaCerda House dedicated the home on May 5, 1996 and named it "Robb's House". For 23 years, Robb's House has been providing safe, short-term housing to people experiencing homelessness and living with HIV/AIDS.
While closed temporarily in 2018 due to a shift in federal funding, DeLaCerda House began work to update the home to be accessible for those who are mobility impaired. In late September 2019 the major renovations will be completed. Robb’s House will then reopen to assist people in our community who are experiencing a housing crisis and living with HIV/AIDS.