THE VOICE

Andover Street: A Place to Call Home

Vinfen is redefining residential care with a diverse range of short- and long-term housing options tailored for individuals with mental health conditions. Our programs meet people where they are in their recovery—supportive, inclusive, and as unique as the people we serve.

This March, we launched a groundbreaking new residence on Andover Street in Lowell—the first of its kind in the region. Designed as a Supported Independent Environment (SIE), it offers a more autonomous setting with less intensive staffing than traditional group homes. Currently, 15 individuals in Vinfen’s ACCS (Adult Community Clinical Services) program call it home.

Set in a beautifully restored historic home—once a serene retreat for Catholic priests—the property now blends old-world charm with modern comfort. A new wing brings the total to 19 private studio-style units, each with its own kitchen and bath, offering residents dignity, privacy, and the space to thrive.

The residents at Andover Street run the gamut, from their mid-20s to their early 60s. Many of them are employed, while others attend a range of day services. Some of the residents have “graduated” from group homes, while others are people who lived in solo apartments and felt they could benefit from a supportive community of peers.

“Our residents are very independent,” says Adwoa Briago, the program’s residential director. “Our staff assist with certain specific things, like administering medication or helping manage each person’s Individual Service Plan. We have community meetings once a week, do group activities like art classes, and organize day trips for anyone interested. But, at its core, this is really a place for people who are ready for a more self-directed living situation.”

Rebecca Spinale, one of Vinfen’s directors of service for community mental health, regards a program like Andover Street as aspirational for residents and staff alike. “The SIE model really allows us to see people becoming more independent,” she says. “It inspires those we serve to think, ‘That could be me.’ And it’s thrilling for our staff to see people really succeeding in progressing through recovery.” 

While the “Supported” part of an SIE specifically refers to staff support, Rebecca says that the new house also offers another kind of support for its residents: the kind that comes from building a community of neighbors. “A number of the residents have definitely built bonds already,” she says. “We have two individuals who live here who knew each other before moving in—one was very gung-ho about coming here, while the other definitely had some nerves and apprehension. They now live in units that directly face each other, and since the house has opened, they have really been supporting each other and taking a lot of comfort from their friendship, even as they become part of the larger community.”

“A program like Andover Street provides clients with an opportunity to further develop the skills and supports they need to live independently in the communities of their choice,” says Elizabeth Cella, senior vice president of community mental health. “Opening 19 new units has also created more movement within the system of care, allowing people who are residing at state hospitals to take the residential program spots vacated by the new residents at Andover Street. This expansion is transformative, providing more residential opportunities for people for decades to come.”