History

Brief History:

Hope House was informally founded in 1956 by Jack Donahue who began by taking up to 3 recovering alcoholics at a time into his apartment in the South End of Boston, providing support and other basic needs.  Hope House grew to include 5 buildings in the South End, incorporating in 1965 making it the first and now oldest programs. Hope House is among the largest residential programs in the state of Massachusetts.  In 1972 in the living room of the Hope House, then Governor Francis Sargent signed into law a bill to decriminalize public intoxication and required police forces to offer help for  the intoxicated to access  treatment.

As time progressed Hope House out grew our South End facilities and made the decision to build a new building, which was completed and occupied on March 30, 2009. The new 35,000 sq. foot building is located in Roxbury’s New Market neighborhood of Boston.  The building included many “green” features like Geo Thermal Heating and Cooling, Solar Energy, and an Energy Star rated Kitchen.  Our new building allowed expansion of services to include an attached 22 unit affordable housing program, an outpatient clinic and increased meeting and administrative offices.

Today Hope House is able to provide a broad range of services to individuals, family, and the community in relation to the treatment and prevention of substance use disorders.  Our original Residential Treatment Program started by Jack Donahue, our outpatient program are licensed by DPH, and our outreach and education to the community at large seeks to improve the lives of those impact by substance use.