O’Hern House is located in the historic Auburn Avenue district of Atlanta. The program, started in 1993, is housed in a renovated historic building. It offers a Housing First model for adults who are homeless and have chronic mental illness. This alternative to living on the streets provides for their most basic needs: shelter, food and security.

Each resident is provided with a room that is furnished with a bed, dresser and private bath. A commercial kitchen provides meals and snacks to all 76 residents of the facility 7 days a week. There are lounges on each floor, an elevator, game room, library and community space. On sites supportive services provide case management, resource connections, medication monitoring and transportation assistance.

Community Friendship Inc. is the service provider and O’Hern House receives funding from the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities. Residents are referred from hospitals and shelters and generally have no income and have not consistently received supportive services nor case management services in many years if ever.  On-site services include, but are not limited to, case management, employment assistance, medication monitoring and assistance with daily living skills.

O’Hern House underwent a major renovation which was completed in 2012, funded by the Permanent Supportive Housing Program through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta. This $3.0 million renovation provided new furnishing for each room, energy efficient systems for the building and new community spaces.