Monadnock Family Services moves Keene-based care to Avon Street

Feb. 27—Monadnock Family Services' new hub for its Keene-based care sends a clear message to its clients: You matter. That's how CEO Phil Wyzik sees it, anyway.

"We want someone who is struggling with symptoms or struggling with poverty to feel like the community respects them ... ," he said. "We wanted to send the message that yes they matter, yes they deserve the best."

Monadnock Family Services moved to 40 Avon St. in early December, Wyzik said, after purchasing the 85,000 square-foot building for $4.2 million from Antioch University New England in the summer of 2022, according to city property records.

The move, first announced in the fall of 2021 by both entities, has allowed the community mental health center to have nearly all of its Keene services under one roof, rather than in several buildings throughout the Elm City.

Antioch will remain on the second floor for at least two years while it seeks a new location, according to Wyzik, at which point Monadnock Family Services' administrators will move their offices upstairs. He noted the nonprofit also plans to rent out any unused space to help generate additional revenue.

Along with convenience, the new location provides a bright, modern space for clients and staff that Wyzik says is palpable, with high ceilings, an abundance of natural light, handmade artwork, updated furniture and outdoor space.

"The buildings we were in [before] sort of inadvertently sent you the message that it was 'good enough' ... ," Wyzik said. "Here, the message, the architecture and the ambiance is very different."

The mental health provider previously operated out of four locations in Keene on Main, 93rd, Railroad and Emerald streets. Wyzik said all services aside from those at Emerald Street — Emerald House, a transitional housing facility — have moved to Avon Street.

The organization owns the properties at 64 Main and 17 93rd streets and is trying to sell them, he added. In addition to the Keene properties, Monadnock Family Services also has a Peterborough location, and operates an adult care center in Jaffrey.

Between its Keene and Peterborough offices, Wyzik said they serve about 1,300 people each month. He added there is still availability for new clients, and those interested can contact the nonprofit at 347-4400.

To renovate the new space, the mental health agency raised more than $1.7 million — surpassing its goal of $1.25 million — through a capital campaign in 2022.

A majority of these renovations occurred before staff and clients moved in, Wyzik noted, with work done throughout 2023.

The new Keene center is broken up into three main areas on the building's first floor — child and family services, adult counseling services and medical services — with each division equipped with private rooms for individual and group therapy and an open workspace for staff. There are also two staff break rooms, as well as several sound-resistant pods for telehealth services.

Additionally, the building also has a large "community room" that can hold up to 200 people, which can be used by Monadnock Family Services or other local groups. The new space also has an internal pharmacy and a dance studio, with renovations underway for an in-house coffee shop where clients will be able to work.

Outside, the Avon Street location has 200 parking spaces, a bike path, raised garden beds, picnic tables and lawns for clients and staff to utilize. Wyzik added Monadnock Family Services plans to install about 750 solar panels on the roof this summer to power a "good chunk" of the building.

And with the new building about a mile from the heart of downtown Keene, he noted City Express has added a bus stop to the facility for anyone who needs transportation.

Ultimately, Wyzik said the Avon Street facility offers more than their previous locations could, with room to grow for clients and staff.

"It's not perfect, it's not fancy," he said, "but I'd be willing to say it's maybe one of the most unique mental health centers now in the state."

For immediate mental health assistance, Monadnock Family Services offers 24/7 care to Monadnock Region residents at 357-4400.

To reach the N.H. Rapid Response Access Point, call or text 833-710-6477. To reach the National Suicide Hotline, call or text 9-8-8 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

Funding for the Monadnock Region Health Reporting Lab comes from several sources, including The Sentinel and several local businesses and private donors, along with support from the Granite State News Collaborative. We continue to seek additional support. The newsroom maintains full editorial control over all content produced by the lab.

Olivia Belanger can be reached at 352-1234, extension 1439, or obelanger@keenesentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter @OBelangerKS.

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