JAR is a proud supporter of Fountain House’s Hardest to Serve Homeless Initiative. Founded in 1948, Fountain House empowers people with serious mental illness in New York City to live and thrive in society. The Fountain House Hardest to Serve Homeless Initiative was launched in partnership with JAR as a support program for individuals with serious mental illness and histories of chronic homelessness.
Through innovative paths to mental health recovery, Fountain House serves over 900 people each month between its two Clubhouses in Manhattan and the Bronx, and has a current active annual membership of 1,600 individuals from all five New York City boroughs. Its model is the most widely replicated evidence-based approach for people living with serious mental illness in the world, with over 300 model programs serving over 100,000 people throughout the US and in more than 30 countries.
Recently, Fountain House established a new social enterprise, Fountain House + Body. Located in SoHo, Fountain House + Body serves to destigmatize society’s misconceptions around mental illness and spark a national conversation about mental health awareness by founding a home and body shop run by people living with serious mental illness. Working in a social enterprise such as Fountain House + Body helps members re-gain confidence, work towards financial inclusion and recovery, and avoid social isolation.
Tashawna is a testament to Fountain House’s award winning approach to empowering individuals with serious mental illness. She has taken advantage of every resource Fountain House has available, such as working two paid transitional employment jobs, going back to school with an art scholarship, and using the in-house gym. Since becoming a member, Tashawna has never looked back on pursuing her life goals, including becoming a performer. Fountain House Medical Director Dr. Ralph Aquila believes Tashawna will get that shot. When speaking to Dr. Aquila’s encouragement, Tashawna has said, “He believes in my dream. He tells me to keep doing what I’m doing. To take my medicine and to keep coming to Fountain House. He sees me as a success. He motivates me to do my best and to be the best I can be.”
Thank you Fountain House for your partnership in making a better and safer NYC.
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