Program Information
Gathering Hope House is a peer-run recovery community in Lorain County, Ohio, following the evidence-based Clubhouse model. We serve adults living with mental illness by offering a structured, supportive environment where members participate in meaningful work, build skills, and strengthen social connections. We accept referrals from mental health professionals, healthcare providers, social service agencies, and community partners.
Who We Serve
We work with adults (18+) living with a diagnosed mental health condition who are seeking connection, purpose, and recovery support. Members come from a variety of backgrounds and may be actively engaged in clinical treatment or looking for ongoing community-based support to complement it.
Benefits for Your Clients
- Increased social connection and reduced isolation
- Opportunities for meaningful activity and skill-building
- Support in returning to work or school
- A community that reinforces treatment goals and recovery plans
What We Offer
- A safe, welcoming space where members and staff work side-by-side on daily operations, wellness activities, and community projects
- Opportunities for skill development, education support, and employment assistance
- Peer support and connection to reduce isolation and promote overall well-being
- Flexible, voluntary participation that allows members to set their own pace in recovery
- Linkage to clinical, medical, housing, and social services when requested
How Gathering Hope House Differs from Treatment
- Community, not clinic: Voluntary membership, open-ended participation, and a non-clinical environment organized around a structured work-ordered day. Members and staff work side-by-side on real tasks that run the Clubhouse; there are no appointments, case loads, or discharge dates. This complements, but does not replace, clinical care from your agency or practice.
- Strengths-first focus: The daily routine centers on meaningful roles, education, and employment pathways that build purpose, skills, and social connection, which reinforce treatment goals and reduce isolation.
- Integrated opportunities: Transitional/supported employment, education support, wellness activities, and peer leadership are built into the day, making recovery supports accessible without the barriers of traditional service delivery.
Impact on Hospital Use and Costs
- Hospitalizations: Multiple reviews and recent studies associate Clubhouse participation with significant reductions in psychiatric hospitalization and improved community functioning.
- Total cost of care: An NYU analysis of Fountain House members found 21% lower Medicaid costs versus matched peers with serious mental illness, with greater savings among higher users.
- Program cost benchmarks: Clubhouse services are reported to cost roughly the same as a two-week psychiatric hospital stay for a full year of supports and are substantially lower than ACT and many community mental health center models.
What This Means for Emergency and Crisis Use
By increasing daily structure, learning opportunities, and peer connection, Clubhouses are linked to fewer hospital admissions and readmissions—key drivers of emergency department use and crisis spending.
Referral Note
Gathering Hope House accepts referrals from mental health and healthcare providers. Participation is voluntary; members may engage alongside ongoing therapy, medication management, case management, or ACT/FACT services.
Referral Process
Referring to Gathering Hope House is simple. Providers can complete our referral form or call our office to speak with staff about a potential member. We welcome tours for prospective members and their providers to see our program in action.
