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Maddie's House describes peer recovery ‘hangout’ and fundraising push for wellness center
Summary
Maddie's House board and staff told the Healthy Neighborhoods committee the organization operates a nonresidential peer-centered recovery center gifted a donated home, serves thousands of members, and has raised about $1.6 million toward a planned wellness and fitness center that still needs roughly $1 million.
Maddie’s House founders and staff told the Healthy Neighborhoods committee that the nonprofit operates a peer-centered recovery and drop-in center for young adults recovering from mental health and substance-use challenges and is planning a $2.6 million wellness and fitness expansion on donated grounds.
Julie Riley, identified at the meeting as the founder and a leading figure for Maddie's House, said the organization began from her daughter Maddie’s experience and has grown from a 2,200-square-foot storefront annex to an 8,800-square-foot donated home on two acres at Pinecroft, gifted by Bon Secours Mercy Health. “We were given a 2,200 square foot storefront … and we spent over $100,000 in that little storefront,” Riley said, describing the program’s early visits and service volume. She said the donated home is now the organization’s main facility and is used for programming, peer support and community events.
Program model and services: Casey, the program director, described a mix of activities split into mental-health programming (peer support, NAMI meetings), sober-support meetings (AA/NA) and community-building events, including arts, yoga and field trips. The organization serves adults 18 and older and offers on-site childcare so members with children can participate. “It’s a mental health hangout for recovering young adults. It’s like a big community center,” Riley said, clarifying that the house is not a residential treatment facility.
Member stories and outreach: Multiple members and volunteers gave short recorded testimonies to the committee describing the house as a “safe” and “homey” place. A member named Logan, highlighted in a video, described sustained engagement over a long recovery journey and credited the organization with supporting his return to family life.
Fundraising and facility expansion: Riley told the committee the nonprofit has about 2,679 members in its app and that it has raised roughly $1,600,000 toward a planned wellness and fitness center on the property; she said the project still needs about $1,000,000 to be completed. Planned additions include a music room, a full gym, expanded childcare space and other program-specific spaces.
Partnerships and referrals: Maddie’s House staff said they work with rehabs, hospitals and justice-system partners to bring members into programming; they also noted reliance on private donations, foundations and volunteer support (the organization said it has more than 75 volunteers and more than 113 community partners).
Decision vs. discussion: the committee received the presentation and filed it for the public record; there was no formal city funding decision made at the meeting. Committee members praised the organization’s model and encouraged community members to support fundraisers and volunteer opportunities.
Contact and next steps: presenters directed people to the Maddie’s House website (mhcincy cincinnati.org as presented) for membership and volunteer information and encouraged attendance at upcoming events. The organization plans continued fundraising until the wellness center target is met.
