As Philadelphia, and the nation, continues to grapple with the deadly opioid epidemic, the city has opened a new recovery housing development to help those in need.
Located in the Holmesburg section of Northeast Philadelphia, Riverview Wellness Village is a comprehensive care and recovery housing property that offers housing, medical care, counseling and mental health support to those in recovery.
“With today’s opening of the Riverview Wellness Village, we are delivering on our promise to take bold, decisive action. This beautiful property is not merely housing— Riverview represents hope, healing, and a new era of collaboration and care in Philadelphia. It is the one of many phases as we build out our Wellness Ecosystem Initiative,” said Mayor Cherelle Parker during the grand opening on Jan. 8.
Built in the early 1900s and acquired by the city in 1943, The Riverview Wellness Village spans approximately 19 acres along the Delaware River. It encompasses a Meeting House, which will host most of the indoor amenities, and six smaller residential cottages: Acorn, Birch, Cedar, Dogwood, Fernwood East, and Fernwood West. Together, the Riverview buildings total about 127,000 square-feet.
“Riverview is a testament to what is possible when we prioritize people and work collaboratively across sectors,” said Aparna Palantino, Deputy Managing Director of the Capital Program Office, in a statement. “In record time, our amazing team, in partnership with several diverse Philadelphia-based contractors and union labor, retrofitted and transformed this space into a beacon of hope and healing, providing much-needed resources to our city’s most vulnerable populations. And the transformation has happened in a very short time given the urgency of the issue.”
In addition to offering housing to those in recovery — there are 340 beds at Riverview — there is also medical care available, as well as nutritional counseling, and mental and behavioral health support delivered in collaboration with partners like the Black Doctors Consortium and Merakey.
Residents will also have access to culinary training, art therapy, community gardening, and employment support programs to help prepare them for independent living.
Riverview’s recovery housing is different from addiction treatment — residents can only come to Riverview after they have completed a 30, 60 or 90 day treatment program.
The first cottage to accept residents this month is Fernwood, which offers 132 recovery beds; they will be welcomed in stages. Capacity for another 200+ will open shortly, according to city officials.
“Referrals will be made from inpatient providers after someone has completed 30 days or more of intensive treatment,” said Isabel McDevitt, Executive Director of Community Wellness and Recovery. “All residents of Riverview will be in recovery. The people living here will be those who are making the commitment to seize the opportunity to transform their lives.”
