HISTORY

      Hedwig House began its existence on October 1, 1975, with the guidance, support and direction of three women with a commitment to bring of service to people with mental illness and a sincere and abiding interest in their quality of life and recovery: Lois Jahsmann, Patricia Kind, and Naomi Dank.    Based on Lois' experience with a program in England called Places for People, the original program focused on the housing needs of persons with mental illness in Norristown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.    It has since evolved into a comprehensive Psychiatric Rehabilitation program offering Housing Support, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Clubhouse services throughout Montgomery County. Throughout its evolution, Hedwig House has followed the philosophical example and has borrowed heavily from the model of the Fountain House program developed in the 1940's in New York City.   Hedwig House is named for Hedwig Van Amerigen. The Van Amerigen family has been an advocate and supporter of Fountain House, and Hedwig was the mother of Patricia Kind, a founder, advocate and supporter of our program.

    The program began as a component of the Central Montgomery County Mental Health / Mental Retardation Center.   In 1976, a separate Board of Directors, under the name of Hedwig House, Inc. was formed. The new organization contracted with the Montgomery County Office of Mental Health. Retardation and Drug and Alcohol Programs to provide services to mental health consumers. This proactive and creative action introduced a rehabilitation service which complimented community treatment services and, at the time, had only a few counterparts throughout Pennsylvania or the nation. In retrospect, it was the precursor of the broad Psychiatric Rehabilitation initiative currently being introduced statewide throughout Pennsylvania.

    Services were initially available only in Norristown.   However, in 1978, Hedwig House's Board of Directors and the County Administration agreed to establish satellite programs in two additional County locations, Lansdale and Pottstown.   

    In 1980, the Norristown services moved to their own facility and opened a new Clubhouse at 904 DeKalb Street, Norristown.  This location remains the organization's headquarters.  That same year, another Hedwig House Clubhouse was established at 1111 Lancaster Avenue in Rosemont, Lower Merion.   In 1982, the Abington Clubhouse was opened, completing the current network of five clubhouses and making services accessible throughout Montgomery County and to some communities in adjacent Delaware and Bucks Counties.

    In December, 1993, Hedwig House, Inc. responded to a Request for Proposal issued by the Montgomery County Office of Mental Health and in January, 1994 the HOMES Team program was implemented. This program recognized that many consumers required assistance to successfully complete the move from transitional housing programs to independent community living.    Some of this group and others in the community, however, did not want or were dissatisfied with the structure of facility-based programs, yet recognized the advantages of having available housing support services. The HOMES Team services were designed to address this need and preference. The Team takes requested services "to the members" in the living situation of their choice. The original proposal was to serve a caseload of 20. Today, HOMES Team is serving a caseload of 35.

    Also in 1993, Hedwig House began to administer a Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) program. This program distributes federal funds for rental subsidy to low income households. Through a special collaborative effort of the Montgomery County Department-of Housing and Community Development and the Department of MH/MR/D&A Programs, individuals and families with special needs can receive priority access to this important financial assistance. As a partner and lead agency in this program, Hedwig House has been able to direct hundreds of thousands of dollars to numerous needy households with mentally ill or mentally retarded members. This has enabled them to find and keep safe, affordable, permanent housing.

    In 1997, Hedwig House entered into a joint venture with two private development companies - Penrose Properties and Halladay Properties. This relationship lead to the opening of the Rittenhouse School Apartments in- Norristown.  An old, deserted school building was transformed into a beautiful, modern, affordable, 48-unit apartment complex. Because of our participation, 10 units of this facility have been made available to special needs individuals referred by Hedwig House and who receive ongoing support services from our staff.

    The year 2001 has found Hedwig House, Inc. beginning to address the housing needs of special needs individuals and families who are homeless or in the emergency shelter and transitional housing services in Montgomery County. We are proud to have been named as recipient of special federal grant funds through the Supported Housing Program and the Montgomery County Continuum of Care efforts. Through these funds Hedwig House will supply liaison services and mental health consultation to persons with mental illness and substance a use problems and to the emergency housing staff who work with them. The program will also provide the opportunity for these special need individuals and families to establish permanent housing.

    At any given time, Hedwig House, Inc. has approximately 360 registered Members.   On any average day 100 to 115 Members participate in our Clubhouse programs.