Fairweather Lodges: Housing, Employment, and Community

Fairweather Lodges, named after Dr. George Fairweather, who first developed the model in the 1960s, are designed for individuals living with and managing a serious mental illness. Built on the understanding that recovery involves both treatment and ongoing support, the model provides four essential pillars: safe housing, meaningful employment, peer relationships, and group autonomy.

Together, these elements create the structure residents need to manage symptoms, stay consistent with medication, and practice daily living skills. By sharing responsibilities and supporting one another, Lodge members gain confidence, strengthen resilience, and take important steps toward independence.

How It Works

Each Lodge offers long-term housing in a safe neighborhood. Residents live together like a family, sharing meals, household chores, and social activities. This creates a sense of belonging while reinforcing daily living skills. Lodge members also work in community jobs or supportive businesses, which helps them earn income, gain self-confidence, and take pride in their contributions.

Research shows the impact of this model. Lodge participants are more likely to be employed, experience fewer hospitalizations, and report greater satisfaction with their lives.

As one Lodge member shared, “Living in a lodge has really changed my life. This is the longest time that I have been able to keep a job. I get the support I need from other lodge members to keep me out of the hospital. I finally feel like I have a home.”

Growth and Opportunity

Last year, Strawberry Fields expanded the program to a second residential site. Both lodges are fully occupied, providing more individuals with the opportunity to experience the stability and community that come with this model.

“The Lodge model works because it is built on trust and teamwork. Our members learn from each other, support each other, and together gain the confidence to live more independently. Expanding to a second Lodge means we can create an opportunity to help even more people who need it,” says Fran McDermid, Director of Program Operations for Mental Health and Social Enterprise.

The work of the Lodge extends beyond daily life at home. This year, residents are raising funds to attend a statewide National Lodge conference where they will connect with members and staff from other Lodges around the country. The effort itself is an integral part of the model, with residents working together to set goals, solve problems, and achieve success collectively.

For Strawberry Fields, the Fairweather Lodges are a place where people find not only a home but also a pathway toward resilience, responsibility, and a sense of belonging.