Hope on Haven Hill to build new treatment facility in downtown Rochester

The former St. Mary's Church on Charles Street will be the site of the 8,000 square foot facility. (courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - Hope on Haven Hill today announced that it is the recipient of two awards including one that will help it build a new treatment and community wellness facility in downtown Rochester.

To enable its building Hope on Haven Hill is allowed to provide up to $500,000 in tax credits to local and statewide businesses who contribute to their capital campaign.

Both awards are from the New Hampshire Community Development Finance Authority.

"We are thrilled to have been afforded this opportunity by CDFA and look forward to partnering with businesses to share how they can donate and receive significant tax credits. It's a win-win for both our mission and the businesses that participate. Together we can make this much needed new facility a reality, " said Hope on Haven Hill Executive Director Kerry Norton.

Hope on Haven Hill provides pregnant and postpartum women with substance use disorder with residential and outpatient treatment, recovery support services and operates Abi's Place, a recovery house for women and their children.

The tax credits will support the organization's goal to construct an 8,000 square foot facility called The Center for Hope and Wellness on the grounds of the former St. Mary's Catholic Church on Charles Street. This center will become the heart of the organization, a hub for families in recovery offering treatment and wellness programs, workplace training, child care for parents in programs and community space for a range of healthy leisure and learning programs.

Hope on Haven Hill spokesperson Jeanette Poulin said today they had hoped to be able to retrofit the church, but in the end it was deemed untenable, so the former church will be razed.

Poulin said it is expected construction on the new facility will begin this fall and be completed sometime in 2022. They acquired the church property in 2018.

The second award, for $60,000, was granted under CDFA's Capacity Building Program and will provide the organization with funds to create a workforce training programs for women who have completed treatment and are seeking to attain new skills and secure employment.

"This grant opportunity will allow us to provide the women we serve with the job skill training and support they need to become valued employees for our local businesses," Norton said. "We support more than 150 women each year in our programs and all of them want to secure meaningful employment.

Hope on Haven Hill is a 501c3 nonprofit organization who mission is to provide a place where pregnant, post-partum and parenting women living in poverty and battling substance use disorder can access residential and outpatient treatment, recovery support and recovery housing. For more information please visit: www.hopeonhavenhill.org

For more information on how your business can participate in donating to Hope on Haven Hill and receive tax credits please contact Norton at KNorton@hopeonhavenhill.org