Fayette Street Residence Closure

With regret, 51°µÍø Mental Health will be closing its residential housing property at 4-6 Fayette Street in Concord this fall. The ten-bed facility currently provides housing for seven individuals.

Riverbend’s Board of Directors and senior team made this decision once it became apparent there would be insufficient state funding for residential services for the community mental health system. In collaboration with all of our partners from the Community Behavioral Health Association, we tried our best to secure funding for housing and uncompensated care in this state budget cycle. Unfortunately, we were unable to secure the funds needed to keep the Fayette Street residence in operation. In addition, the funding picture at the federal level remains uncertain.

Housing is a critical service we take seriously. Riverbend offers several housing options for clients needing varied types of services, from semi-independent living to 24/7 care for those with severe persistent mental illness. In a challenging housing market, every bed and every housing option that serves those with mental illness is essential. We take pride in providing safe, stable housing for nearly 50 individuals in Merrimack County, with the appropriate levels of therapeutic services for each individual.

Riverbend greatly values its relationship with our clients. To make this move as seamless as possible and to ensure continuity of care, we are providing two months’ notice for affected clients and their families or caregivers to organize their future care plans and pursue other housing options. Current clients who meet appropriate clinical requirements will be transferred to other Riverbend residential properties. In addition, the four Riverbend staff working at Fayette Street are being offered other positions within our agency, as we seek to retain talented team members. The changeover and closure of the residential facility is expected to conclude by Tuesday, September 16.

It is tremendously disappointing to cease our operations at Fayette after years of providing a great service to the community. We remain grateful for the support our overall mental health care system continues to receive from individuals, donors, and community partners.

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51°µÍø Mental Health is a private non-profit and one of the largest providers of specialized behavioral health services for children, adults, and their families in central New Hampshire. Nearly 6,000 children, families and adults are served annually. Core services include 24/7 emergency services; counseling services; comprehensive community and school-based services for children; addiction recovery services; and community support, vocational services, and residential programs for adults and seniors. For more information, visit , or follow @RiverbendCMHC on Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), or LinkedIn.

How Can You Can Make a Difference? 

• Support our mission by donating to the Transforming Lives Through Support Naming Initiative. 
• Receive recognition with a named space or program within our agency.
• Leave a lasting impact on mental health in our community, and serve as an example to others.

Why Your Support Matters

Your donation will help us:

• Sustain our mental health programs and services.
• Reach more individuals in need of support.
• Continue to break down stigma and barriers to mental health care.
• Create a brighter future for our community.

The changing terms of Medicaid coverage from the pandemic era (2020-2023) have had a serious financial impact on mental health providers, making community support and funding more essential than ever. Riverbend established the Transforming Lives through Support Naming Initiative to secure crucial support for our organization’s programs, enabling us to maintain our reach and impact in Merrimack County and beyond.

Earlier this year, Riverbend relocated its administrative offices to downtown Concord, enhancing its community visibility, while transforming the former administrative office space at 278 Pleasant Street into a 12-bed community residence. The residence serves individuals with severe persistent mental illness, addressing a crucial need in our community and helping to mitigate emergency room boarding. By offering naming opportunities for rooms and spaces, we aim to generate vital resources to support our programs and continue to provide a healing environment. An example of the many services and programs Riverbend offers include:

• Counseling for children and families
• Autism supports
• Community Support: offering specialized services for adults with severe mental illness
• Walk-in care
• Integrated health
• Supported employment services
• Residential treatment programs
• Addiction & Recovery: Our Choices program provides outpatient addiction treatment
• Psychiatric Emergency Services:
• Mobile crisis team
• Crisis stabilization apartments
• Wellness education
  • Mental Health First Aid training
  • Trauma response services for those affected by critical incidents

Consider a tribute to a loved one or family through our Naming Initiative while simultaneously making a direct, immediate difference in one’s life! Local businesses, families and individuals have heeded this call, and we welcome others to our giving circle.

If you are interested in being a part of this initiative, please email our Director of Development, Brenda Aziz, at baziz@riverbendcmhc.org.