Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and the City of Philadelphia Open Riverview Wellness Village with a Focus on Recovery Housing

Philadelphia-Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and The City of Philadelphia are proud to announce the opening today of the Riverview Wellness Village, a comprehensive care and recovery housing property designed to address a critical gap in Philadelphia's wellness ecosystem. The need for more recovery beds for people who are coming out of inpatient substance use disorder treatment was identified by the City's Department of Health and Human Services, with the input from many of Philadelphia's leaders in healthcare management, addiction services, behavioral health and medical care.

"From the moment I was sworn in as Philadelphia's 100th Mayor almost exactly a year ago, I committed to addressing the complex and interconnected challenges facing our communities, with public safety at the top of the list," said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. "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."

To inform this initiative, Mayor Parker convened Philadelphia's major healthcare, substance use disorder treatment service and insurance providers to gather their input, with the goal of helping the Administration identify the gaps in the current wellness ecosystem. The participants noted that a coordinated plan between Philadelphia government and these medical services providers to address these gaps had never been developed before. The opioid crisis, particularly in neighborhoods like Kensington, have exacerbated these gaps in the continuum of care.

To respond, Mayor Parker charged Managing Director Thiel, Police Commissioner Bethel and Director of Public Safety Adam Geer to work collaboratively with their leadership teams to create a series of innovative and inter-departmental approaches to improve public safety, advance health outcomes for residents, and focus on community revitalization in areas that have been negatively affected by homelessness and violence.

"Riverview Wellness Village reflects the Parker Administration's vision for the Wellness Ecosystem Initiative, which emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and investment to address the interconnected crises of substance use disorder, homelessness, serious mental illness, chronic and acute medical issues, and public safety," said Adam Thiel, Managing Director, City of Philadelphia. "This effort builds on Philadelphia's existing resources while introducing new capacity and focus to fill critical gaps."

Features of Riverview Wellness Village
The Riverview Wellness Village is located in the Holmesburg section of Northeast Philadelphia. It was built in the early 1900s and the City acquired it in 1943; the first building was constructed in 1956 and spans approximately 19 acres along the Delaware River. It was originally designed as an extension of an existing indigent housing complex.

The new Riverview Campus 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. All cottages and the main building are interconnected by corridors and solariums, except Fernwood East and West, which is a stand-alone building located on the northwest side of the site. 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 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. We're so proud of the masterful variety of skills brought to make this vision a reality and the high-quality product we are delivering to the new residents."

Key features include:

• Recovery-Based Housing: There are 340 beds across six residential cottages and a central Meeting House, providing a safe and stable environment for individuals in recovery.
• Comprehensive Onsite Services: Primary healthcare, connections to substance use disorder services, chronic disease management, nutritional counseling, and mental and behavioral health support delivered in collaboration with partners like the Black Doctors Consortium and Merakey.
• Life-Skills and Workforce Development: Culinary training, art therapy, community gardening, and employment support programs to help residents prepare for independent living.
• Community Integration Spaces: Recreational areas, fitness facilities, and opportunities for peer engagement and social support.

All residents of Riverview will be in recovery. The people living there will be those who are making the commitment to seize the opportunity to transform their lives.

"When Mayor Parker gave our team the directive to find a solution for individuals in struggling with substance use disorder and homelessness, she very explicitly said that our solution had to be compassionate and dignified," Crystal Yates-Gale, Deputy Managing Director of Health and Human Services. "She had a clear vision of what Riverview could and should be. She wanted a campus to provide the same type of healing environment that wealthy people or those with great insurance coverage would get when they battle the cycle of substance use disorder.

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. We are expanding capacity by 66 percent from 509 recovery beds to 845 recovery beds.

"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."

The Capital Program Office is currently in the design stage of a new 95,000 square-foot multi-story facility that will include even more amenities, such as sports and recreational fields, an orchard and a community garden. Phase 3 of Riverview Wellness Village will include the addition of a new building that will support expanded capacity for the facility.

Quotes provided by major stakeholders and partners about Riverview:

• "We support finding innovative ways to fill in the gaps within our healthcare and wellness ecosystem. The Riverview Wellness Village for recovery services and housing is a step in the right direction in providing long term recovery resources." - Joseph G. Cacchione, MD, Jefferson's CEO

• "True leadership is not just about making decisions; it's about inspiring change and fostering hope in the hearts of the community. Mayor Cherelle Parker has demonstrated her commitment to enhancing our community by implementing effective strategies, so our city is safer, cleaner and greener for all residents. The opening of the Riverview Wellness Village marks a significant step forward in addressing substance use disorders -a critical issue affecting countless lives in our vibrant city, from business owners and schoolchildren to individuals seeking recovery. Together, we can foster a healthier and more supportive environment for everyone." - Kevin B. Mahoney, Chief Executive Officer of the University of Pennsylvania Health System

• We thank Mayor Cherelle Parker for her leadership in addressing the epidemic of substance use disorder in the city of Philadelphia. Big issues require innovative, multi-pronged solutions and the opening of Riverview Wellness Village is an important step to providing so many people with essential resources for long-term recovery in our great City." - Michael A. Young, President & CEO, Temple Health

• "Self Help Movement would like to commend Mayor Cherelle Parker on her visionary leadership in confronting the addiction epidemic that has deeply impacted our community. The establishment of Riverview Wellness Village is a monumental step forward in the fight against addiction, offering much-needed hope and resources to those struggling with substance use. The Mayor's commitment to providing a comprehensive, compassionate approach to recovery reflects a deep understanding of the challenges faced by individuals and families in our city. Thank you, Mayor Parker for your tireless efforts in improving the well-being of our residents and making a lasting impact on the lives of many. We look forward to working together." - Robert Dellavella, CEO, Self Help Movement

• "The Riverview Wellness Center is a great example of the Parker Administration's commitment to take long overdue bold steps to address Philadelphia's opioid epidemic. Having lost a child to fentanyl and heroine, I can say with confidence that Mayor Parker recognizes that to save lives, there needs to be a new approach to dealing with these very lethal drugs. The Riverview Wellness Village is a major step in the right new direction!" - Mark Nicoletti, a humble member of the ever-growing huge constituency that has been impacted by the crisis

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