California’s first “Fairweather Lodges’ in San Marcos and Escondido provides permanent shared housing and supported part-time employment for mentally ill adults.  This program raises the bar for mental health housing demonstrating that disable adults can live satisfying and productive lives.

Interfaith’s Fairweather Lodge is a permanent housing alternative to traditional Board and Care facilities. This innovative recovery model of supported employment and housing gives high-functioning mentally ill adults the power to live in interdependency where staff acts as advisors, mentors and guidance counselors.

Residents have true ownership over their life and employment choices. An agency-owned business offers secure employment with opportunities for advancement. Residents are respected as a valuable part of a work team and not viewed in terms of their mental illness.  Lodge members grow and thrive in this peer-supported environment with their dignity intact and hope for the future to propel them towards to a brighter tomorrow.

The primary guiding principles of the Fairweather Lodge are:

Housing:  a safe, healthy and caring environment, which reinforces the recovery process

Employment: Structured to ensure financial reward for increasing participation in employment

Autonomy: Commensurate with behavioral performance, with the ultimate goal of full autonomy

Social: a successful lodge resembles a family. Residents share meals and interact in recreational activities