The Front Porch, Newport's walk-in mental health urgent care center, will open four overnight beds on Wednesday, November 20, after months of renovation. The expansion allows people in crisis to stay for up to 10 days, a significant increase from the previous 23-hour limit.
Operated by Northeast Kingdom Human Services, the Lakemont Road facility opened in June 2024 as Vermont's first around-the-clock walk-in mental health urgent care. With the new beds, visitors can now come and go without needing a doctor's referral or hospital admission.
“You can come here. You can stay here, in your community,” said Kelsey Stavseth, executive director of Northeast Kingdom Human Services. “It's about stabilizing in your community, so you don't need to leave. You don't have to go inpatient. It's really tailor made for folks who are struggling with mental health needs.”
According to Stavseth, 96% of people who use Front Porch return to the community. The center offers group therapy, individual counseling, peer support, and access to a community garden. Peer support specialist Byron Savoy called the approach “radically egalitarian,” adding that staff are not police but allies.
The project cost $1.3 million for land and original construction, plus $1.9 million for renovations. Funding came from $2 million in state grants and $1 million from Northeast Kingdom Human Services' reserves.
Front Porch serves all ages and does not require a minimum level of severity. “Stress and anxiety can come from a flood. It can come from losing your housing. It can come from losing your job,” Stavseth said. “Just show up and we'll figure it out with you.”
Originally reported by VTDigger.
Photo: Famartin (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0). Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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