Laurel House
Laurel House, Inc. provides resources and oppor- tunities for individuals living with mental illness to lead fulfilling and productive lives in their com- munities. Our core purpose is early intervention and remediation, social inclusion and recovery. We have been in operation since 1984, serving residents of Greenwich, Stamford, Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk, Weston, Westport and Wilton. Last fiscal year (ending June 30, 2016) Laurel House provided service to 793 individuals and 209 families.
Laurel House removes barriers to getting safe, affordable housing in Stamford by assisting some of the most vulnerable in the Stamford community who are homeless or living at a shelter and are also unemployed and without benefits or other means to afford an apartment unit. In FY16 Laurel House served a total of 88 individuals in our residential properties and in scattered site apartments in the community. Twenty-seven of those residents live at our 6 Washington Court building -- originally constructed in 1925.
All 12 bathrooms at 6 Washington Court were deteriorating and needed renovation. The bathtub surfaces were impossible to thoroughly clean; both tiles and grout had been repeatedly repaired and/or replaced and continued to deteriorate on the walls surrounding each tub. Older clients were having difficulty getting in and out of the tubs, which created a resistance to showering and daily hygiene.
Through the support of the State of Connecticut’s Nonprofit Grant Program, Laurel House was award- ed a grant to renovate all 12 bathrooms at 6 Wash- ington Court. With this renovation Laurel House was able to: convert the old bathtubs to pre-fab smooth-walled showers with a low-entry base, in- stall grab bars, install new “water-saving” shower heads, replace old vanities, replace existing tile, repair or replace old toilets and radiators, and re- place sinks, tiles and flooring, where it was necessary. All work met code requirements.
By replacing the old bathtubs, pipes and tile, Laurel House was able to save $22,000 over 10 months, projected for $36,000 over 18 months. These renovations not only helped Laurel House save money on future replacement and maintenance costs but also improved client hygiene and safety and helped to restore residents’ quality of life. The residents are very grateful for their new bathrooms!
