Residential behavioral health facility in Biddeford reopens

BIDDEFORD — After several months at a local hotel, residents of Friendship Hill House are back home.

Friendship Hill House is a residential program that provides housing and support to people with behavioral health issues. It is a program through Volunteers of America Northern New England. VOA  Northern New England is a non-profit that provides a variety of services in Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire; including affordable housing, senior living, veterans programs, recovery programs and mediation services.

The large multi-unit building on Oak Street dates back to 1900, according to city records. VOA Northern New England purchased the building in 2015 to run the residential program, where staff support residents as they develop daily living skills, seek educational opportunities and learn how to manage symptoms. The structured program helps clients work toward independence.

The location is conveniently located near the downtown and Clifford Park, and residents can access local bus services.

The house needed some updates, said Michael Coon, Vice President External Relations Volunteers of America Northern New England, and the program was transferred temporarily to a local hotel while work was done to complete a remodeling project. The $1.35 million renovation was completed by TPD Construction and Bild Architecture.

After several months, the residents of the nine units along with the 40 staff are back in a newly renovated building. The building has kept many of its distinguishing features while making updates for safety and energy efficiency - beautiful bay windows frames now have windows that aren’t drafty. Each apartment is unique, and the building is up to date with modern safety measures like sprinklers.

The office layout has been redesigned to be more streamlined and better utilizes the space for staff needs, said Program Manager Emily Testwuide.

One feature that has been added is a porch for residents to socialize, and plans are in the works for a gazebo in the front yard.

“The clients are so excited to come back. They’re utilizing the porch like crazy,” said Testwuide. “We had picnic tables before, but this feels really homey.”

The building blends in well with the surrounding neighborhood, and Coon said that VOA Northern New England strives to create residential facilities that compliment the surrounding area while meeting the needs of its residents.

“We want to be good neighbors,” said Coon.

An interesting fact about the house was that it was once owned by the family of Sam Cohen, who was known for his charitable giving. Today, Cohen’s namesake philanthropic agency, the Sam L. Cohen Foundation, partners with VOA to help serve Maine’s most vulnerable communities. Other partners include Maine Housing, Bangor Savings, the U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development Housing Trust Fund, the Home Depot Foundation, and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.