B U S I N E S S • R E A L E S T A T E • H O M E I M P R O V E M E N T business Human First: A Home from the Heart Spend a few minutes with Wafa Abboud and you will see that everything she does comes from the heart. It is what inspired a parent to approach her about starting an organization for the developmentally (continued on page 40) disabled, telling her “I have an autistic child and I’ve met so many people in this fi eld, and I’ve never met somebody like you. You do everything from the heart.” This encounter would be the foundation for Human First, Inc., a non-profi t organization that provides services to the developmentally disabled and their families. Ms. Abboud’s involvement with the developmentally disabled community spans 20 years, and through the years she witnessed the struggle families encounter when they cannot get services for their loved one. She started Human First in 2001 because of her desire to ensure the equitable distribution of services to the developmentally disabled. An idea stemming from the blessing of one parent has blossomed into an organization serving over 1,500 families throughout New York City and Long Island. But building an organization from scratch had its share of challenges. Ms. Abboud strategically established and built a reputation within the target demographic to attract clients and families to Human First. Further complicating the matter, Ms. Abboud had to overcome the inherent cultural biases associated with female CEOs. She recognized early on that she needed deliverables and standards to form the building blocks of her organization. Ms. Abboud does not shy away from challenges, and Human First followed suit by developing a reputation as an organization that prided itself on accepting the cases deemed “too challenging,” and for going above and beyond to deliver for clients and their family. “I challenge myself everyday not to lose sight of the mission,” says Ms. Abboud. “I am going to serve those whose cases are particularly diffi cult which others are reluctant to tackle.” These ideals were crystallized when Human First came to the aid of a Bay Ridge family seeking assistance for home modifi cations to accommodate their disabled child and, fi fteen years later, those ideals continue to serve as the guiding principle for Ms. Abboud and Human First. “We’re going to do it regardless of the hurdles before us.” The family of a 15-year-old Bay Ridge girl was referred to Human First by the State. They needed costly home modifi cations to accommodate their daughter’s medical equipment. The oldest of eight children, she was confi ned to a wheelchair and on a feeding tube. Her father and younger brother carried her up and down the stairs because the house was too small for a chair lift. For seven years, her father met with individuals and organizations that, while sympathetic, were ultimately unable to obtain the funding needed to make the home accessible for his daughter. When he fi nally met with Wafa Abboud, she assured him that her organization would complete the modifi cations within six months. To accomplish this, Ms. Abboud had to make the case that a one-time payment for the home modifi cation was in the best fi nancial interest of the State. At the time, the State fi nanced just 40% of the cost of the project, leaving organizations to pay the balance. If fi nancing could not be secured, families faced the diffi cult decision of placing their loved one in a nursing home, the cost of which would be covered by the State for the duration of the individual’s life. Ms. Abboud argued that the full funding of a one-time home modifi cation would be more cost-effective than the yearly fi nancing of an individual’s nursing home stay. The State funded the project and, six months later, the modifi cations were complete. Wafa Abboud and Human First delivered on their promise to this family after they spent seven years tirelessly advocating for their daughter. Word of this achievement spread and Human First quickly became known for making the seemingly impossible possible. After completion of the Bay Ridge home, Human First came to the aid of another family who needed assistance for a home
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