Our History
In just one instant, the life of an active person can be dramatically changed by a traumatic brain injury. In the blink of an eye, the beat of a heart, the squeal of a tire or even the errant flight of an object, things can change forever. The choices were few on Cape Cod for the head-injured. This was the reason for the founding of CHIP’s House--where hope, courage, and love abide. Here, residents can maximize their functional potential and achieve the highest level of independence, thus greatly improving their quality of life.
A Powerful Idea
The choices were few on Cape Cod for the head-injured. Most impacted lived in an institutional environment among the frail elderly and the terminally ill. This triggered founders Roy and Ann, parents of individuals impacted by brain injury, to thinking: "What if there was a place to serve individuals with severe closed-head injury? A community environment where hope, courage, and love abide?" The two parents have worked hand in hand since then.
1991
Strenghtened by Community Support
The effort to establish this residence received the support of the community as a whole and the specific endorsement of the Barnstable Housing Authority, Massachusetts State Head Injury Program, Barnstable Town Council, the Centerville Civic Association, and the Barnstable Historic Commission.
1992
Constructions Begin
The Gorham F. Crosby House, built in the 1850's at 9 Park Avenue in the center of Centerville, was deeded to CHIP, Inc. in 1992. Major renovations were made possible by a grant from the Massachusetts Executive Offices of Communities and Development Housing Support Program and the gifts and contributions of many caring public-spirited groups and individuals.
1992
First Residents Move In
On December 29, 1994 the residents moved in, all wheelchair-dependent; leaving behind an institutional environment among the frail elderly and the terminally ill. Instantly, life has become better, richer, fuller and more normal for those residents.
1994
Chips House II is Established
Since placement at Chip's House is for one's lifetime, we had little or no turnover, and as result no vacancies. How could we help others who were knocking at our door? This brought about what has been described as our most major accomplishment, the purchase and renovation of Chip's House II at 23 Park Avenue next door to Chip's House I. It was dedicated and opened in June 2002. Currently this residence along with Chip's House I is able to serve 21 head injured and seriously disabled individuals in.
2002
A Home of Our Own
Today, Chip’s House provides long-term, community-based housing that is safe, dignified, and tasteful to a full house. We continuously improve and reinvent ourselves to find the best ways to provide support to our residents and achieve our mission.
2016