Nonprofit Spotlight: Yahara House
Mad City Dream Home
Real Estate
15 hrs ago
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The feeling of true community is unmistakable. Maybe you’ve felt such mutual respect and love walking into your home during the holidays, when you get together with a dear group of friends, or at your place of worship. This same sense of belonging was immediately noticeable when I visited Yahara House earlier this year.

Yahara House is a ‘clubhouse-style’ recovery center for individuals with mental health struggles. It is one of over 330 clubhouses in 30 countries that use this model. You probably have driven by Yahara House many times if you live in Madison. Behind its doors at 802 East Gorham Street is a group of members and staff focused on recovery through hope, dignity, and community. Members of Yahara House can spend 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at the clubhouse during weekdays. Decisions, big and small, about how the clubhouse is run are made as a unanimous group. This often means there is open discussion, compromise, and creative solutions. 

Members are also given the opportunity to work side-by-side with staff in one of the clubhouse’s three departments:

  • “Biz:” completing the day-to-day finances and reporting; groundskeeping; reception staffing; or working the member consignment store

  • “Cafe:” helping provide homemade lunch for members during business days, including meal planning, ordering, and cooking the food (Yahara House’s well-tended on-site garden provides some of the lunch essentials!)

  • “MC:” tackling all things Membership and Communication, including managing the website & social media, creating newsletters & member announcements, and giving tours to prospective members

This model combines an inclusive space with meaningful work. It aims to help members establish or regain autonomy and confidence. When members are ready to use their skillset in the community, they can join one of the various employment programs offered by Yahara House. For example, the Temporary Employment Placement (TEP) program connects members with community organizations that could use their part-time help - using real skills, and earning real wages. In 2024, members in TEP or adjacent employment programs worked tens of thousands of hours and earned over $500,000. 

I encourage you to stop by Yahara House; everyone, staff and members alike, are proud and excited to show off their work! It’s a special space, with distinctive nuances on each floor. For example, there is a stairwell gallery of photos of members’ pets, and a weekly “Catfish Cafe” which is a time for members to share their talents and perform amongst friends. After hours, members come together for weekly jam groups, game nights, work and education support dinners, and creative self-expression art groups. 

Yahara House is a part of Journey Mental Health Center and is largely funded by Medicaid. Now, more than ever, they could use the support of community members who believe in their work. Consider: