Fountain House. A pioneering mental health organization that revolutionized community-based treatment for people living with mental illness. Founded in 1948 in New York City, Fountain House developed the first successful clubhouse model to address the devastating social impact of mental illness. The organization operates on the fundamental premise that people living with mental illness are active participants in their recovery, not passive recipients of care.
Each year, over 1,300 members come to Fountain House to contribute their talents, learn new skills, access opportunities, and forge meaningful friendships. The clubhouse model emphasizes peer support, mutual aid, and community integration as essential components of mental health recovery. Unlike traditional treatment facilities, Fountain House creates a working community where members and staff collaborate as equals in operating all aspects of the program.
Fountain House members, in partnership with dedicated staff, operate comprehensive employment, education, wellness, and housing programs. These evidence-based interventions are designed to provide real-world opportunities while building the desire and confidence to pursue them. Members perform all vital community activities, including advocacy, communications, food preparation, administrative support, and participation on the Board of Directors. This member-driven approach ensures that people with mental illness have meaningful roles in shaping their own recovery journey.
The organization’s innovative programs address multiple facets of community integration.
The transitional employment program provides supported work opportunities in competitive job settings, while educational initiatives help members pursue academic goals. Housing programs offer supportive residential options, and wellness programs focus on holistic health approaches. These comprehensive services work synergistically to create a supportive ecosystem for mental health recovery.
Fountain House creates a transformative culture that demonstrates measurable outcomes. Members experience fewer hospitalizations, improved overall wellness, reduced sense of isolation, and increased fulfillment, purpose, and stability. The clubhouse model has been extensively studied and validated through peer-reviewed research, showing significant improvements in quality of life, employment rates, and community tenure for participants.
The organization’s influence extends far beyond New York City. Fountain House is a local working community with global reach, having inspired the creation of hundreds of clubhouse programs worldwide since 1948. These international programs serve more than 100,000 people across six continents, adapting the core principles to diverse cultural contexts while maintaining fidelity to the original model.
Recognition of Fountain House’s impact came through prestigious awards.
In 2014, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation acknowledged the organization’s global influence and the efficacy of its evidence-based model with the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize. In 2016, Fountain House received the J. Luce Foundation Bauer Fund Award, further validating its innovative approach to mental health treatment.
The clubhouse model pioneered by Fountain House continues to challenge traditional psychiatric treatment paradigms. By emphasizing recovery-oriented care, community integration, and member empowerment, the organization demonstrates that people with mental illness can lead fulfilling, productive lives when provided with appropriate support and opportunities. Fountain House remains at the forefront of mental health advocacy, continuously evolving its programs while maintaining its core commitment to dignity, respect, and hope for all members.