About Us

Since 1957, Haven House has provided mental health services to the Lehigh County and Northampton County residents. Our mission is to improve and elevate the independence of individuals having mental illness while supporting recovery and enhancing their quality of life.

The commitment we have for our clients fuels our desire to see them reach their goals for healing, recovery, health, and wellness. Our outpatient community mental health care clinic provides several levels of care in psychiatric services, medication management, and therapy through:

  • Outpatient Services
  • On-site Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services & Mobile Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services
  • Wellness Recovery
  • Support and Therapy groups
  • Mental Health & Aging
  • THRIVE
  • Community outreach and collaboration
  • STARTS

Our caring staff of mental health professionals collaborates across programs and services so that we can provide our clients with person-centered and strengths-based personalized treatment and care. We strive to make each client feel respected and accepted.

We encourage you to learn more about how we provide wellness and care to our clients by clicking here


Our History

The origin of Haven House dates back to the 1950’s when there was a growing national interest in the plight of clients with mental illness.

In early 1957, Dr. Lenore Koehler, a member of the Bethlehem Society of Friends, became interested in the social rehabilitation of clients being released from Allentown State Hospital.

Dr. Koehler recruited volunteers from Society of Friends and the Lehigh Valley Unitarian Church. The group received orientation and training at Allentown State Hospital and the first meeting was held at the Unitarian Church in December 1957.

After the passage of the 1963 Federal Mental Health Act, more clients were being discharged to the community and while the county Mental Health/Mental Retardation Services set up programs to meet this growing need, other resources were still lacking.

In 1964, Lehigh Valley Horizon House joined together with the Mental Health Associations of Easton and Lehigh County to form the Lehigh Valley Mental Health Association in an effort to strengthen each organization so they could more effectively serve the clients returning to the community.

On June 21, 1971, Haven House followed the recommendations by the Lehigh Valley Community Council and separated from Lehigh Valley Mental Health Association and became an incorporated agency. Haven House began providing partial hospitalization program services with the following mission:

  • To assist clients in making the transition from inpatient to outpatient
  • To encourage clients to expand their potential for broader community involvement
  • To support and maintain those clients marginally adjusted to the community

At the end of 1990, Haven House had grown to a full five day and evening program with a full-time clinical staff of seventeen, five psychiatrists, a program nurse, fifteen board members, and a client population 227.

In 2006, Haven House transitioned from a partial hospital program model to a psychiatric rehabilitation services model, which provides individualized, recovery-based skill development and structured activities focusing on life skills, vocation, and socialization. Outpatient clinic services continued to grow also.

From 2010 – 2011, the state of Pennsylvania announced its plans to close the Allentown State Hospital and all
surrounding buildings. Approximately 650 outpatient clients were being served.

In October 2012, Haven House moved to its present larger location at 1411 Union Blvd, Allentown (east end).

Since relocating, Haven House has continued to improve the building and exterior grounds to include additional offices for therapy and Wellness Recovery Team and exterior program areas for client activities including gardening, fitness activities and outdoor classroom pavilion.

From 2018-2019, the current number of clients served grew to over 1,700; with many clients utilizing multiple services. New expansion to create the Physician’s Wing created a separate, yet convenient space for appointments with nurses and doctors. New program additions within Northampton County – Mental Health & Aging and THRIVE.

Haven House