The Wells/Robertson House provides transitional housing for homeless men and women who have undergone alcohol/drug treatment or received other professional counseling and want to break the cycle of homelessness. The program helps residents learn how to be self-sufficient, working and functioning members of society.

The facility was developed in response to concerns merchants in Olde Towne Gaithersburg had about the alcoholics and addicts on the streets. The City was already helping to fund shelters and a soup kitchen. A Task Force was formed to survey the street population of the City and explore options. The Task Force recommended the hiring of a Homeless Advocate to work with the people on the streets. The Task Force also pointed out the need for a transitional facility to house the homeless alcoholics and addicts when they completed treatment.

In his first year, the Homeless Advocate admitted 15 men and two women to long term alcohol/drug treatment programs. His services have become well known in Olde Towne. Now, we have homeless persons walking in off the street to talk about available treatment and housing. As of February 2007, 156 people have been admitted to treatment who then came into Wells/Robertson House. Many more have been given other services related to food, shelter, clothing, and basic needs, or placed into treatment to aid them into transitioning back into the community

Wells/Robertson House is the only facility of this kind in all of Montgomery County. It is one of only two in the entire state of Maryland.

The residents of the House are required to:

• have full-time employment or be in job training/school;
• pay rent;
• work to pay off debts and eventually open a savings account in their own names;
• do chores to maintain the House;
• attend a 12-step meeting daily;
• obtain a sponsor and do 12-step service work;
• learn whatever daily living skills are necessary.

Wells/Robertson House opened in December, 1988.  During the past 18 years of operations, a dedicated staff has seen 457 people as residents in the program.  Successful outcomes are measured in three areas:  Residential stability, Increased skills and Income, and for Greater self determination.  In regards to Residential stability, 28 out of 29, (96%) of the residents who entered the program during the last operating year attained employment.  Data from the Increased Skills and Income Section reported that 20 out of the 30 people who entered the program during the last operating year increased their income by $500, and all of the people who stated at least four months opened a savings account.  Under the reported outcomes 11 out of 16 (69%) residents who stayed more than 6 months in the Wells program and left during the operating year remain clean and sober after being out of the program at least a year.

These outcome measures are the criteria upon which we base our definition of success.

The goal of the House is to provide people with a clean, safe, sober, long-term environment in which to pull their lives back together, become committed to a program of recovery and learn the skills necessary to allow them to become independent, sober, contributing members of the community.

Related Events
9/28/2013	Wells Recovery Picnic,