HeartShare Opens Home for Autistic Kids at Former Church Convent Site
Bensonhurst — A group home for autistic young people has opened at the site of the former St. Finbar Church convent on Bay 19th Street, bringing to fruition a long-held dream of Bill Guarinello, the president and CEO of HeartShare Human Services of New York.
HeartShare, the nonprofit social services agency, is the sponsor of the group home at 131 Bay 19th St.
Guarinello, whose agency offers a wide array of services to the developmentally disabled and their families, said he has always wanted to expand the programs HeartShare provides for children with autism spectrum disorders.
The Bay 19th Street group home is located next door to the HeartShare School. The school, at 1825 Bath Ave., is housed in the site of the former St. Finbar Catholic School. The home will provide housing for seven males between the ages of 7 and 21. The residents will attend classes at the HeartShare School.