July 16, 2018 – We’ve come a long way. Almost 42 years ago we occupied a small space in the Shannon Building in downtown Norwich. As a single-staffed drop-in center, we didn’t need much more than a room or two to operate. To say we’ve grown would be an understatement. Today, we serve over 1,000 people a year through 30+ programs scattered throughout Norwich and the surrounding towns. For years, Reliance Health members have diligently traveled between office locations to receive services. If they were seeking employment they went to 40 Broadway, to get to the clubhouse they hiked up Laurel Hill, shot over to Penobscot Street for recovery groups, and popped into Cliff Street to meet with their service coordinator. This week, that all changes.

When we purchased 2 Cliff Street this past October, we were excited to be able to offer accessibility and ease of access to those we serve, but we weren’t sure how long it would take to get the building ready to move programs in. We went through the building several times and had meeting after meeting to determine what needed to be done and where each program would end up. With the third and fourth floors operating on an outdated heating and cooling system, HVAC was the first item to be addressed. Then came walls, the beginnings of our teaching kitchen, floors, doors, and fresh paint. The building has transformed to a bright and energized space, eager to welcome new guests.

Today we are anxiously tying up loose ends, cleaning up whatever tools, debris, and dust is left over from the past several months of construction. Tomorrow, four programs move into their new home, joining the Community Support Teams, Outreach to Homeless, and Outpatient Services, who had been renting space in the building before the purchase. Supportive Housing, Career Services, Supported Education, and SLP 1 will be the first to move, with the Teamworks Clubhouse and Penobscot Place following in the next few weeks. We are so excited that all our day programs will be under one roof. This change will ease the burden of transportation and accessibility for those that we serve, while encouraging cohesion and collaboration between the programs. We are proud of this accomplishment and look forward to seeing this building come to life!