Celebrating Community Care: Florence Crittenton Completes Residential Floor at Cooney Campus

At Slate Architecture, we are dedicated to designing spaces that uplift and support communities. We are thrilled to share a significant milestone in the Helena community's journey of care and support—Florence Crittenton's completion of the residential floor at its Cooney Campus facility. This achievement, celebrated on June 18, 2024, marks a crucial step in the organization’s ongoing mission to provide essential services to vulnerable populations.

Transforming Historic Spaces for Modern Needs

Florence Crittenton’s redesigned and renovated second floor of the historic Cooney Campus building now houses two critical residential programs: the Youth Maternity Home and the Recovery Home. These programs serve young mothers and women recovering from substance abuse, providing a safe and nurturing environment for them and their children.

• Youth Maternity Home: Supports mothers aged 12 to 18 and their children.
• Recovery Home: Aids young mothers recovering from substance abuse disorder.

Executive Director Carrie Krepps emphasized the importance of creating a home-like feel, stating, “Our clinical director did a lot of work with the design team talking about trauma and how space affects trauma. I was so impressed about how the entire design team went through that process and really engaged and worked to understand how important that was.”

A Community Celebration

Before welcoming its first residents, Florence Crittenton opened the remodeled space to the community, allowing them to see firsthand the thoughtful and trauma-informed design that will support up to 14 women and their children. The new floor, designed to provide a sense of comfort and safety, will be closed to the public once residents arrive to ensure their privacy.

Project Sunshine: A Vision Realized

The remodel, part of Florence Crittenton’s Project Sunshine, is nearing its $12 million fundraising goal. This multiphase project aims to consolidate all of the organization’s services under one roof, enhancing the efficiency and reach of their programs. With the residential floor and Child Enrichment Center now complete, the focus shifts to the ground floor, which will house administrative offices and community service programs.

A Legacy of Care

The Cooney Campus, purchased by Florence Crittenton in 2021, has a rich history of serving Helena's underserved populations. From its beginnings as the County Miner’s Hospital to its years as the Cooney Convalescent Home, the building has been a beacon of support. “When we signed the buy-sell we started to think what an incredible conjunction of two very important spaces and organizations that has truly cared for this community and beyond,” said Krepps.

Florence Crittenton has been a cornerstone of the Helena community for 125 years, and the completion of this residential floor is a testament to their enduring commitment.

Learn More

To find out more about Florence Crittenton and Project Sunshine, visit their official website.

For more insights into how Slate Architecture supports community-focused projects, stay tuned to our blog and follow us on our social media channels. Together, we build spaces that make a difference.

For the full article by Eric Jochim, visit Florence Crittenton celebrates completion of residential floor at Cooney Campus.