BEDFORD-STUYVESANT — A Williamsburg-based substance abuse treatment center is moving to Bed-Stuy after leaders received word their original building would be razed to make room for a new high-rise.
Damon House, which currently operates out of 310 South First St., will relocate to a Kent Avenue building and church in June, according to executive director Janet Lerner.
“It’s really the perfect place and it puts our clients in a position where they can get a lot of support from the church,” Lerner said.
Damon House provides residences for homeless men looking to recover from drug or alcohol abuse. The group also offers mental health services and educational resources to its clients.
The nonprofit was founded at the Williamsburg location in 1984, and also operates out of a second spot in Bushwick.
Demolition plans for the South First Street site were filed with the city's Department of Buildings in 2013, and a seven-story 133-unit complex is set to rise on the same lot, as first reported by Brownstoner.
“This is the classic scenario where we don’t have a choice, and there wasn’t a thing we could do about it,” Lerner said. “But the Bed-Stuy community here has a lot of people who care and are willing to reach out, which makes it a very good choice.”
At the new Bed-Stuy site at 802 Kent Ave., Lerner hopes to bring in additional mental health services and treatment programs.
Brooklyn Community Board 3 backed the relocation with a letter of support to the program earlier this week.
Damon House will provide beds for up to 70 men who can utilize the organization’s 12-Step meetings, skills training, and outpatient services.
The nonprofit will take over the basement of St. Lucy’s Old Roman Catholic Church, as well as three floors of the building next door.
The center currently works with Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church on Decatur Street for bible study sessions and other outreach.
