Fountain House

08/21/2025

We're so grateful for Ros and Annie!

08/20/2025

Members and staff from Fountain House Hollywood were featured on NPR Morning Edition with Renee Montagne to share their lived experiences with serious mental illness and the impact of the clubhouse model.⁣
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"It's three words - 'community is therapy' - and it works." - Jillian Santoro, clubhouse director, Fountain House Hollywood⁣
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A clubhouse is a community-based location designed to support the recovery of people living with serious mental illness. Each clubhouse provides a restorative environment for people whose lives have been severely disrupted because of their mental illness. The concept of a clubhouse - which was pioneered by Fountain House in the 1940s - starts with this idea, that "community is therapy." ⁣
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"I think the clubhouse model is so essential in taking people to the next step to where they're actually entering into recovery and not just surviving." - Dr. Lisa H. Wong, director, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health
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The clubhouse model has been proven to reduce loneliness, reduce costs, and reduce cycles of isolation and institutionalization. ⁣
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Head to the link below to learn more and hear from the community!

Hollywood Clubhouse Aims to Help People with Serious Mental Illnesses

08/18/2025

08/07/2025

A huge congratulations to Phoenix House!

We were honored to attend the official ribbon cutting of Phoenix House last week.

The new clubhouse is based in Harlem and can host up to 300 members. Fountain House member and Board Member, Arvind Sooknanan, attended and shared some advice for prospective members:

"Just let other people there help you figure out what you want to do every day...It’s because of the clubhouse that I can prove to other people that I’m okay, that I have something to contribute, that I am more than my illness.”

Phoenix House, Proven Approach to Mental Health Care, Rises in Harlem

07/31/2025

President Donald Trump’s budget reconciliation bill aims to target key cuts to the nation’s social safety net.

Fountain House CEO, Ken Zimmerman, and Senior Medical Director, Dr. Jeanie Tse, share the potential effects of these cuts and how the organization is preparing to fill widening gaps.

“We actually reduce Medicaid costs of 21% every time somebody becomes a clubhouse member, it actually is about a 35% to 40% reduction in crisis care costs and an increase in primary care, which is exactly what you want,” said Ken Zimmerman, CEO of Fountain House."

Read the full article in City & State NY.

How nonprofits will shoulder burden of Trump megabill

07/29/2025

Today’s member spotlight is Ray! Head to our blog to learn about his mental health journey and the role clubhouses and art have played in his recovery.

Member Spotlight: ‘I’m a survivor, and I’m proud to have turned myself around’

07/25/2025

Fountain House Responds to Misguided Executive Order on Homelessness, Mental Illness, and Substance Abuse:

Fountain House CEO Ken Zimmerman said: “The recent Executive Order on homelessness signed by President Trump is misguided and potentially dangerous, redirecting attention away from what we know works and towards criminalization and outdated, ineffective and inhumane approaches. While the actual significance of this Executive Order is uncertain, we know as a community of 1,600 people with serious mental illness – 37% of whom have been homeless -- how to advance long-term recovery. We should be elevating trust-building approaches that integrate community care and supportive housing and, by doing so, reduce costly cycles of hospitalization and incarceration. Instead, this Order does the opposite, prioritizing enforcement, criminalization, and forced treatment, which together, serve to trivialize rights and undermine solutions that address the root causes of homelessness in the United States.

Read the full statement here:

Fountain House Responds to Misguided Executive Order on Homelessness, Mental Illness, and Substance Abuse

07/24/2025

Last week, Fountain House welcomed electeds to our Hell's Kitchen clubhouse in Manhattan.

On Thursday, New York State Representative Tony Simone and Assemblymember Romero toured the clubhouse, meeting with our community along the way. The next day, Senator Addabbo also visited for a member-led tour.

These moments are special for Fountain House and filled with immense gratitude. They also showcase the hard work our community does to advocate for people living with serious mental illness, so that we all can live with purpose, belonging and dignity.

Thank you to New York State Representative Tony Simone, Assemblymember Romero, and Senator Addabbo for taking the time to visit and learn more about the model. We're looking forward to seeing what the future holds!

07/24/2025

Did you know the 35th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is this Saturday, July 26th?

We celebrate this important civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The purpose of the law is to make sure that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law 35 years ago on July 26, 1990. This historic civil rights law protects the rights of people with disabilities.Celebrate & Share | Events | Video: ADA 35 Reflections | LearnCELEBRATE & SHAREFIND Themes for Month, Week, Day + Disabili...

07/16/2025

07/10/2025

Fountain House had the honor of hosting Concert Pianist, Dr. Nargiz Aliyarova, for a classical piano concert on Tuesday evening. Nargiz Aliyarova is a New York-based international concert pianist, professor, and recording artist. She has performed as a soloist and withorchestras in over 40 cities worldwide, with debuts at Lincoln Center (2018) and Carnegie Hall (2022). Her repertoire spans from baroque to contemporary music.⁣
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Recognized for her artistry and passion, she has received awards from the Government of Poland and the Azerbaijan Republic, and is a laureate of⁣
the Pietro Argento International Competition. She is also the founder of The National Music & Global Culture Society, bridging global communities through classical music.⁣
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The program consisted of pieces by Mozart, Chopin, Haydn, Azerbaijan composers and more. We are grateful to Nargiz for sharing her gift with our community. Watch the full concert on YouTube below!

Dr. Nargiz Aliyarova is a New York-based international concert pianist,professor, and recording artist. She has performed as a soloist and withorchestras in ...