Our Story

Happy Home Sponsored Residential Services was founded in 2023 by Jocelynn and Steve Easton.

Our son is on the Community Living Waiver and graduated school in 2023. With no after school options available, he began to stay home full-time. Keeping an adult child at home rather than a group home is a deeply personal decision. For us we were willing to do anything to keep our son in his own home. However, the demands of his care made working outside the home impossible.

We began pursuing becoming a sponsored residential sponsor with other agencies. After speaking to several of them, we felt the going percentage taken from monthly Medicaid reimbursements (anywhere from 25 to 35 percent) was not reasonable and decided to become our own Agency. For over a year they studied the process and regulations, developed policy and procedure, went through training, and worked diligently with the Office of Licensing until we became fully licensed through DBHDS.

We have since completed a full year and a half of being fully licensed by DBHDS as both the Provider and Sponsor. It took a lot of work and we decided our next step was to help other families whose children are on the Community Living Waiver become sponsors so they do not have to make the decision between caring for their child and financial stability. With sponsored residential families can have both.

We have always had a heart to help others. From 2019 to 2023 we ran the area’s only non-profit food truck, Legaci Eats and gave away over 90,000 free meals to those in need and front-line heroes. We also made Christmas possible for thousands of children through our “Hark the Bells” program.

Prior to that Jocelynn ran a non-profit in their son’s name helping other families with children with special needs. We understand the business side of helping others. More than that, we operate from the heart’s side.

Jocelynn has fiercely advocated for her son. In 2018 because the HOA in the neighborhood would not allow a sign on the mailbox stating a child with autism was in the area, she approached then Delegate Rob Bell. He agreed to put forth a bill and Jocelynn testified in front of both the Virginia Senate and House. Together, they were able to have regulation 46.2-830.2 pass unanimously into law so any family can request a sign from the Virginia Department of Transportation placed in their neighborhood allowing drivers and authorities to know extra precaution may be necessary.

Happy Home began with a simple but powerful belief: families should not have to choose between caring for the people they love and sustaining their own stability. As parents ourselves, we understood the quiet worries, the long nights, and the fierce devotion that comes with supporting an adult child with a disability. We also saw how overwhelming systems and regulations could feel without the right guidance. What started as a personal journey to create security for our own family became a calling to walk alongside others.

We built Happy Home to be the kind of provider we wished we had — one rooted in compassion, clarity, and partnership and not run with a motivation of financial gain. Our story is shaped by lived experience, not just policy manuals. We know the value of a safe home, the importance of advocacy, and the relief that comes when you have someone in your corner. Today, we are proud to support other families as they open their homes, strengthen their foundations, and create environments where individuals can truly belong and thrive.

Happy Home’s mission is to bring other families under our umbrella — providing guidance, structure, and support as they navigate state requirements for reimbursement. We believe families who devote their lives to their children should keep more of what they earn and feel empowered, not overwhelmed.

Jocelynn Easton

Executive Director, Supervisor

Steve Easton

Quality Improvement, Risk Management

Jocelynn grew up in the Air Force. She graduated from NYU in 1991. After dancing ballet professionally in NYC she owned a Gymboree Play and Music franchise. From 2002 to 2011 she ran a non-profit in her son’s name helping families with children with special needs. In 2004 she settled in Charlottesville, VA. She and Steve co-founded Legaci Eats’ in 2019.

Steve grew up in the Charlottesville area. He held General Manager positions in several area restaurants both local and big chain. His duties included Risk Management and Quality Improvement. He and Jocelynn founded the non-profit LegaciEats in 2019. Steve served as the Executive Chef and business partner.

They have been married since 2019 and their blended family has six children.