Honoring Genesis House for 30 years of service to the community

by Elissa Blair Slotkin

Mr. Speaker, today I celebrate Genesis House, which for the past 30 years has provided meaningful opportunities and hope for people living with mental health challenges in Livingston County, Michigan.

Founded in 1998 in Howell, Genesis House is a program of Livingston County Community Mental Health and part of the evidence-based Clubhouse International model designed to improve the lives of those who participate by providing social support, education, and employment. One of more than 300 such clubhouses worldwide, Genesis House is so much more than a physical gathering space; it's a place members can call home. At Genesis House, people navigating life with mental illness can learn, grow, and develop the individual skills they need to increase their independence and continue their recovery. In this model, Clubhouse members and staff work together to carry out daily duties, with staff mainly serving as coaches, cheerleaders, and talent scouts, pouring their faith into those who may not yet believe in themselves,

In addition to providing a place for meaningful social and recreational opportunities for hundreds of members, over the past 30 years Genesis House has partnered with dozens of local employers and organizations to help members find and retain gainful employment.

It's a powerful vision of social and economic inclusion, and one that I had the chance to see firsthand when I visited Genesis House in 2019 at its Fowlerville location. There, as members answered phones, prepared meals, and tidied the facility, I heard how much the Clubhouse meant to them. I saw what a restorative atmosphere it was, and that it was clearly a community of people dedicated to walking alongside one another on the path to a better life, no matter how long it takes or how difficult it is.

Recently, Genesis House returned to its Howell roots and took over a larger, brighter space with the capacity to serve even more members. The new location, where sunlight pours in through floor-to-ceiling windows, is a powerful metaphor for the light that Genesis House shines in the community, and the glow of resilience of its members. As we mark 30 years of success for Genesis House, I salute all those who have supported this organization along the way, by fundraising, volunteering, and helping to spread the word about the organization and break the stigma around mental illness. I pay tribute to the members and the staff for the hard work they do each day to make this house a home. Long may Genesis House, a beacon of hope for so many, continue to shine in Howell and beyond.