The Breakthrough House

The Breakthrough House was recommended to Friends Of Ayers Foundation by a wonderful young lady named Rebecca. Jennifer the FOA founder met Rebecca over 12 years ago as she was attempting to work her way through her own recovery with a mental health condition. She had just watched the movie, The Soloist, which is about Jennifer’s brother and LA Times reporter Steve Lopez. She was so inspired to see a movie that talked about “schizophrenia.”

The Breakthrough House Clubhouse is a place where people with mental illness can come to rebuild their lives as part of a community of mutual support. As one member put it, “It’s a good place to get yourself well.

Their flagship service is one of more than 300 clubhouse programs operating in 24 countries around the world. The participants are called members, not patients, and the focus is on their strengths, not their illness. The environment is a welcoming one, where a member is missed when absent and where the community pulls together for support should a member suffer a setback. Work and other activities in the clubhouse are designed to empower each member toward a more independent and enriching life on their journey.