Beginning with the name, our shelter is named for Richard Wellwood, JIMHO's founder and one of the first and most effective consumer advocates ever. We have developed a homeless to housing program run by, and provided for, people who suffer from a mental illness.

We house a maximum of nine individuals who are homeless. We take in residents by referral, mostly from our local crisis services/ partial hospitalization program at CEI CMH, called Bridges. People are also accepted on the request of other programs at JIMHO.

The shelter operates from 4 pm until 8am seven days a week. Residents are required to be out of the shelter during the day. Meals, laundry supplies and assistance, hygiene supplies and instruction, all bedding, and a place for residents to secure their belongings are provided to all residents, free of charge.

We currently employ 4 part time employees, whose positions are supportive employment positions, meaning they receive specialized and alternative instruction and support by other consumers to be able to maintain and grow in their employment.

At this time we ensure the staff provides Certified Peer Support  Services to all the residents of the shelter. This is a more formal enhancement of the role model type guidance we previously provided.

Initially we only agree to a 21 day stay. We do however grant extensions on a weekly basis, and as long as the client is following their action plan they arrived with (put together with their case manager’s assistance) these extensions will be granted.

The goal is to transition residents from homelessness to housing, instead of another stop in a homeless shelter.   Ending homelessness, and giving people tools necessary to retain permanent housing is our main objective at Richard’s Place.

                       To contact Richard's Place directly:  517.485.7170