F.A.Q

Membership is open to anyone (age 18 or older) with a mental illness, or if you have an interest in mental health. You must also be a resident of Lorain County and may be required to provide proof of your address during the intake process.

The first step is to visit us and take a tour. If you decide to become a member, there is a simple intake process with our Membership Coordinator. If you decide you need time to think about joining and want to come back at another time, that is fine with us.
Gathering Hope House offers an open-door policy for new member orientation every Monday through Thursday from 9 am until 2 pm, except for holidays. It is best to call first at 440-233-7400, but appointments are not required.

How often you come is up to you. Some members come every day. Each month we create a calendar of events that lists our activities and groups. Members are encouraged to select the activities and groups that they are interested in attending and if they will be needing transportation assistance, please contact our front desk to make arrangements.
For community events where space and transportation are limited, we ask all members to sign up in advance by contacting the front desk or Membership Coordinator. For members who are not able to attend during the day we have social activities and events available in the evenings Monday through Thursday, and it’s a great way to stay connected to Gathering Hope House and make new connections and friends!

Transportation is offered for adults residing within a 15 mile radius of Gathering Hope House!

Your first visit will include a tour of Gathering Hope House, meeting some of our staff and members of our Outreach committee.
You will receive a monthly calendar of activities and a Member Manual. A member of our team will meet with you to explain our programs, mission and answer any questions you may have.
You will be asked to fill out a member intake sheet and share some information about you which will be kept confidential.
Sometimes it’s hard visiting a new place, we want you to feel comfortable here and invite you to bring a member of your support team, a family member or friend who can support you in your first visit.

Gathering Hope House values our members, and as a peer empowerment center, our staff work side by side with members in all aspects of the organization and agency programming.
Below is a list of the Clubhouse-inspired experiences available for members to participate in; training is provided for all programs. Members are encouraged to volunteer for as many activities as they desire, and there are no time commitments except for the Member Leadership Committee, which is six months.

• Art Studio – assist with art groups/projects, helping to facilitate, prepare, organize, and other art studio-related activities
• Clerical/Front Desk Department – assist with answering phones, greeting visitors, making copies, and other office-related duties.
• Development Committee – participate in the regular committee, share ideas and help facilitate all aspects of planning, publicizing, and executing fundraising events.
• Education and Support Groups – help co-facilitate education groups, encourage member participation, and assist with getting materials ready for groups to carry out group-related activities which promote social connectedness, consensus building, and social learning.
• Fitness Center - provide assistance to people using the fitness center, perform equipment safety checks, report any issues or concerns related to the fitness center or machines, help keep the center clean and organized, answer questions, and ensure all participants sign in and out.
• Food Services – assist with all aspects of food services from helping with food preparation, cooking, cleaning, menu planning, inventory, food serving, and all food-related activities and groups.
• Hope Chest Boutique – assist in all aspects of the agency boutique, such as processing donations, retail-related activities, marketing, setting up displays, organizations and customer service
• Outreach Committee – participate in activities that promote the organization and help expand and retain membership. It also includes helping welcome new members and assisting with new member orientation and community presentations. This committee is part of our newly expanded Outreach Program, which plans on developing a Speaker’s Bureau to educate and raise mental health awareness and reduce stigma. Speakers will complete a training curriculum and may earn a stipend for speaking engagements.

Gathering Hope House – a Clubhouse Model
Clubhouses are a powerful demonstration of the fact that people with mental illness can and do lead normal, productive lives. Clubhouses are local community centers that provide members with opportunities to build long-term relationships that, in turn, support them in obtaining employment, education and other supports including:
Participation in consensus-based decision-making regarding all important matters relating to the running of the Clubhouse;
Assistance in accessing community-based educational resources;
Access to crisis intervention services when needed;
Social and recreational events; and
Assistance in securing and sustaining safe, decent and affordable housing.
Clubhouse Membership
A Clubhouse is a membership organization, and the people who come and participate in a Clubhouse are its members. Membership in a Clubhouse is open to anyone who has a history of mental illness. This idea of membership is fundamental to the Clubhouse concept: being a member of an organization means that an individual has both shared ownership and shared responsibility for the success of that organization.
To be a member of an organization means to belong, to fit in, and to have a place where one is always welcome. For a person living with mental illness, these simple things cannot be taken for granted. In
fact, the reality for most people who live with mental illness is that they have a constant sense of not fitting in, of isolation and rejection. Mental illness often has the devastating effect of separating people from others in society.
The skills, talents, and creative ideas and efforts of each member are needed and encouraged each day. Participation is voluntary, but each member is always invited to participate in work which includes clerical duties, reception, food service, outreach, maintenance, education & support programs and much more.

Opened in October 2005, our organization was founded in part by members of Clifton Lodge, a gathering place for adults with mental illness and addictions in Lorain, Ohio, who were seeking a place of acceptance and belonging. They wanted to use their experiences to help one another and contribute to an organization alongside with others interested in mental health. We now have 200 members in Lorain County who participate in a variety of ways at Gathering Hope House.

Gathering Hope House encourages individuals managing mental illness to join together as members, inspiring and supporting one another’s personal growth and recovery. Together, members and staff will also challenge the community in which they live to develop compassion and acceptance of all.
We support our members as they achieve their goals by adhering to our guiding principles of integrity, personal growth, belonging, competence, helpfulness, fairness and teamwork.

In-Kind Donations!
We welcome donations of art supplies, items that can be used in our Hope Chest Boutique, office supplies or any other items you may wish to donate. Please call us if you have any questions or to arrange a drop off date/time!


Volunteer!
We have many opportunities for volunteers!
Volunteer opportunities include helping to co-facilitate a group or an activity, teaching a class, assisting in one of our fundraisers or special events or helping to advertise our organization.

Donate!
We have a donate button on our page for you to donate directly to Gathering Hope House!