For more than 200 Bronx members, Venture House is a place to build routines and take part in work, learning and social activities while living off site. The newly constructed clubhouse in Fordham Heights gives the program a permanent home after it operated from a temporary site on Webster Avenue. Its facilities include a commercial kitchen, dining space, art and media studios, and a wellness center.
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the clubhouse, according to the Bronx Times. Located at 2494 Elm Place, the site serves members managing conditions including schizophrenia, major depression and bipolar disorder. bhnet.org reported that the Health Department and Venture House celebrated the opening on September 28.
Membership costs nothing out of pocket and, per venturehouse.org, lasts for life once someone joins. The clubhouse is open to New York City residents age 18 and older who have a mental health diagnosis, including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or PTSD. Venture House also runs locations in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island.
What Members Can Expect Inside
Venture House's Bronx site provides career and employment exploration, job applications, benefits advisement, mentorship and peer support, the organization's website notes. It also offers tutoring, application assistance, program research, financial literacy, conferences and trainings for members working toward education or job goals. According to News 12 Bronx, members volunteer to cook, clean, plan activities and run meetings, while staff help them build resumes and apply for jobs.
Venture House also offers housing support and a Young Adult program. More broadly, the clubhouse model combines peer connection with opportunities to take part in purposeful activities, offering community-based support for people who may otherwise experience isolation or social exclusion.
A Citywide Push Backed By Millions In Funding
The Health Department began expanding the clubhouse model in 2023, and by 2025 the city had grown its network to 13 contracted clubhouses citywide. New York City and New York State invested $30 million in that expansion, which established 13 high-capacity mental health clubhouses and added three new Bronx locations — Venture House Bronx, Foundation House Bronx in Concourse, and Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and New Jersey's Lantern House in Mott Haven.
There are now roughly 5,000 active clubhouse members across the city, with about half having joined within the past two years, the same bhnet.org account notes. Among members enrolled for at least a year, the employment rate climbed from 31% at enrollment to 55% in fiscal year 2025, according to city health officials. Venture House Bronx aims to grow from its current roster of more than 200 members to 475 by the end of this year, per News 12 Bronx.
What City Records Show
In a response to Manhattan Community Board 3’s FY 2027 budget questions, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reported that the 13 contracted clubhouses collectively had 3,827 active members during their first contract year, fiscal year 2025. The department also said there was no waiting list for clubhouse services when it provided its response.
Local Leaders Weigh In On The New Space
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson described the new clubhouse as an investment in accessible spaces where residents can connect and participate. State Assembly Member Yudelka Tapia, who helped secure $200,000 in the state budget for the clubhouse expansion, said the space supports Bronx residents’ dignity and independence.
State Assembly Member George Alvarez said the original clubhouse had provided support and community for people who relied on it. Venture House CEO Juliet Douglas said the program’s approach centers on lasting relationships, purpose through work, opportunities for members to contribute their talents and a supportive community.
How To Join Or Tour A Clubhouse
New Yorkers interested in joining or touring a clubhouse can visit, call or email a location, or call 988 to be connected with the nearest clubhouse. Prospective members can also request to join in person, by phone or by scheduling a tour. Applicants must submit an application and either a psychiatric evaluation documenting a diagnosis or an attestation form signed by a licensed mental health professional.
The 988 line provides mental health resources and crisis support around the clock. The clubhouse's opening also arrives just ahead of World Mental Health Day, observed annually on October 10, which raises awareness about mental health issues nationwide.
