The Basics
Phoenix House at Cornerstone in Northfield, New Hampshire, is a transitional living home for men. Cornerstone is one among a larger network of sober living homes and treatment facilities run by Phoenix House.
The story of Phoenix House begins in 1967, when six heroin addicts decided to get clean and support one another as roommates in a brownstone on Manhattan’s West Side. These founders enlisted the help of the psychiatrist Dr. Mitchell S. Rosenthal and counselors from New York City’s Addiction Services Agency (ASA). In 1972, Phoenix House became a non-profit; services expanded further in 1983 with the inception of a residential high school designed to help young people get back on their feet having faced consequences with substance abuse.
To date, Phoenix House has 150 programs in the United States. In 2012, Newfound Recovery Residences, LLC, took ownership of the Cornerstone residence. In 2013, Phoenix House began operating under Newfound Recovery Residences as a CARF accredited agency. Phoenix House clients live at the residence while attending outpatient treatment nearby at The Franklin Center. The Franklin Center facility offers detox, Intensive Outpatient Treatment (IOP), relapse prevention education and services for dual-diagnosis clients.
Amenities and Accommodations
Phoenix House at Cornerstone is a state-funded program. Clients give a percentage of their incomes to cover the treatment component of care. Cornerstone identifies as a transitional living program, which differs slightly in cost and structure from sober living homes. Phoenix House provides a structured living environment while clients attend outpatient treatment. Length of stay varies per person. Clients stay while in outpatient treatment, if they are in need of housing after inpatient or if they require a space to live that won’t threaten their sobriety. Cornerstone staff provide case management for clients throughout their stay.
The Colonial-style property in Northfield is rich with history. This home once belonged to Asa P. Cate, a prominent figure in New Hampshire. He was a state legislator, president of the state senate, a lawyer then judge and a three-time Democratic contender for governor. The property is located in a safe, suburban residential neighborhood. The two-story home maintains its traditional look, with old-fashioned light fixtures, white siding, black shutters and a bright red front door. The home includes twelve twin beds, with six bedrooms. Clients sleep two to a room. There are five bathrooms, two full and three half.
There are two kitchens, one on the first floor and a full kitchen on the second floor. A food budget is included in the price of living. Laundry facilities are available for free on the first floor. Meeting rooms and a private office are offered for sponsor-led step work with privacy. The home includes Wi-Fi and cable and public transportation is within walking distance. Employment, education and recreational opportunities can be found nearby.
Rules and Regulations
Clients complete an application and telephone interview before admission at Phoenix House. Because of the expectations for good behavior and abstinence from alcohol and drugs, Phoenix House residents are expected to have completed either residential or IOP treatment in the past six months. Clients must also be employed or have proof of income to begin living at Cornerstone. Staff require an entrance fee and rent, which are due on admission. The rent, paid weekly, varies per person and is based upon the client’s income.
Cornerstone’s sister program, The Franklin Center is designed for clients to transition into outpatient care, where they work with staff on individualized treatment plans. The Phoenix House Franklin Center offers residential treatment, detox, crisis intervention and inpatient treatment with 24/7 care. It uses 12-step tenets to treatment as well as evidence-based practices, primarily CBT. Clients undergo random drug testing by either the housing coordinator or manager. Depending on the level of treatment a client pursues at The Franklin Center, the requirements for meeting attendance and counseling vary.
Extras
Clients enjoy a common recreation room for exercise like yoga, reiki and meditation practices. The property has a large backyard with a path leading to historical Tilton Arch Park and a popular running, hiking and biking trail. The trail provides access to swimming, tubing, boating and other recreational activities.
Phoenix House locations in New Hampshire include the Academy in Dublin, the Dublin Residential Program and the Keene Community Residence. Other Phoenix House Sober Living locations in the United States include Virginia, Vermont, Texas, Rhode Island, New York, California, Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Metro D.C. Clients and prospective residents can find out more about Phoenix House through its blog.
In Summary
The transitional living program offered by Phoenix House at Cornerstone provides the opportunity for new behaviors to become long-term habits that lead to success and independence in sobriety. Structure is built in with outpatient treatment at The Franklin Center. Clients experience a gradual independence in recovery with a wealth of resources available to them.
Phoenix House at Cornerstone
23 Elm St
Northfield, NH 03276
Phoenix House Sober Living at Cornerstone Cost: State-funded/percentage of income per client. Reach Phoenix House Sober Living at Cornerstone by phone at 1-888-671-9392 or by email at pdalpra@phoenixhouse.org. Find Phoenix House Sober Living at Cornerstone on Facebook, Twitter and Google+
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Photo courtesy of By John Phelan (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons (resized and cropped)
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