About CHMHA
An alternative to traditional clinical treatment, Community House provides a supportive family atmosphere for its members in which they can feel a sense of belonging and grow at their own pace.
“I enjoy coming to see my friends, and I like having lunch here. The number one thing I like, is being with my friends.”
Josh, Community House Member
Community House Mental Health Agency (CHMHA) helps people with severe and persistent mental illness increase their social, vocational, and life skills, with recovery as the program’s overall goal.
As an alternative to traditional clinical treatment, Community House provides a supportive family atmosphere for its members in which they can feel a sense of belonging and grow at their own pace. Community House members are encouraged to help design their own treatment.
Staff incorporate a broad base of therapeutic approaches while maintaining a relationship that is open, informal, and caring. We provide a peer support day program, crisis intervention, medication prescription and management, and assistance and direction to assist members with basic living needs.
Contact Us
Administration
- Administrative 206-329-6485
- Accounting 206-324-6999
- Clinical Services 206-322-2387 ext. 2317 Intakes
Housing
- Supportive Housing 206-322-2387 ext. 2325 or 206-782-1942
- Jackson Heights, Workforce Housing, 206-322-2429 ext. 2354
- Spring Manor, 24 Hour Assisted Living, 206-324-9021
- Hilltop Manor, 24 Hour Assisted Living, 206-329-0364
- Firwood, 24 Hour Assisted Living, 206-362-0560
You may send correspondence to: Community House Mental Health Agency P.O. Box 3846 Seattle, WA 98124
Who We Are
We are a community of members and mental health professionals working together to create a society that understands and accepts severe and persistent behavioral health issues. Our members come from a range of backgrounds and experiences and have been brought together by their unique paths towards mental health recovery.
Mission
We hold ourselves responsible as instruments of social change to the larger community for creating a society which not only tolerates, but understands and accepts people who have severe and persistent behavioral health issues.
This philosophy serves as the basis of our treatment program, which is individually designed in partnership between members and staff to meet basic life needs such as housing, food, clothing, psychiatric and general medical care. The fulfillment of these basic needs provides the foundation for meeting primary social goals of belonging, having a network of support, employment options, and educating the larger community about people with mental illness.
History
In the late 1960’s, there was a growing need for support services for adults with mental illness in the community. In Seattle, Capitol Hill Methodist Church addressed that need by opening a lounge in their building for former patients of psychiatric institutions. This was the beginning of Community House. Through the 1970’s, Community House raised enough money through donors to move into a house and provide services such as a meal program and recreational activities. Community House became an independent non-profit agency in 1976.
In 1986, the state of Washington recognized Community House as a Community Mental Health Services provider. This expanded the organization to provide emergency, outpatient, day treatment, community support, and consultation and education services. In 1989, Community House built its first residential facility, aimed at providing housing to clients who were homeless and in need. Since this time the agency has dramatically expanded and now provides a network of housing options from 24 hour staffing in Washington State licensed group homes to fully independent apartments for clients who are further in their recovery.
Board Members
If you would like to join an important part of the Community House Mental Health Agency board of officers and members please contact Chris Szala at: cszala@chmha.org
Board members are a key part in overseeing what goes on at the agency by voting on critical issues that concern CHMHA. Once a month the board gets together to review such topics as fiscal and financial planning, big expenses coming up, housing and development, and monthly review/update from the executive director’s report.
Alan Hernandez, Board President
Tribal Social Work, Skokomish
Caelen Aanecker, Board Vice President
Attorney
Geoff Austin, Board Treasurer
Healthcare Administrator, UW
Nic Gregoric, Board Secretary
Graphic Designer, Freelance
Larry Crim
Real Estate Agent, Windermere
Paul Elders
Client Representative
Fred Katz
Non-profit Administrator, Fremont School
Steve Fernald
Respiratory Therapist, Seattle Rehab.
Chris Szala
Executive Director, Community House
Matt Jellerson
Peer Counselor and Client Representative
Paula Younkin
Editor, Freelance/Microsoft
Anthony Urga
Manager, Superior Gunite (Commercial Concrete Company)