L'Arche Greater Washington, D.C., creates inclusive communities as a model for learning how to build inclusive societies. L'Arche follows the example of Jesus, who left behind the relative security and comfort of his family of origin and made a new life with people who were pushed down and left out in his society. He lived his life with them, and they became his people. In L'Arche Greater Washington, D.C., people with, and people without, intellectual disabilities, from a variety of cultural and religious backgrounds, commit to a life together. They become each other's people.

Family-like homes are at the heart of life in L'Arche. Within the homes, people with and without intellectual disabilities form deep friendships, share chores and meals together, and practice their faith. Community members commit to supporting each person's faith or values tradition. These strong relationships are the very center of L'Arche, and the home is where they are created and nurtured. L'Arche communities are places of welcome and support for families and friends, volunteers and neighbors, schools, religious congregations, and social service groups.

Founded in 1983, L'Arche Greater Washington, D.C., has two homes in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of the District of Columbia and one home (soon to be two) in the Arlington Heights neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia. L'Arche Greater Washington, D.C., is one of seventeen L'Arche communities in the United States and one of more than 130 L'Arche communities worldwide in over thirty-five nations on six continents. Altogether, more than five thousand people with and without intellectual disabilities share their daily lives while being embraced and celebrated for their gifts. Together, we work for social change and try to model a society that sees the value and necessity of each person and each group.