St. Stephen’s House of London is the only Long Term Recovery Home for alcoholics and addicts in the London area. We have no fixed term for resident recovery. Residents stay as long as assistance is required.
St. Stephen’s House of London was the vision of Sister St. Patrick of the Sisters of St. Joseph. Sister St. Patrick was encouraged and mentored by Sister St. Stephen, when they were both nursing sisters at St. Joseph’s Hospital. During this time, Sister St. Patrick became acutely aware that chronic alcoholic men were not being adequately served within the hospital system and often fell between the existing services. She became involved in the Detoxification Centre, located on William Street, which was officially opened on September 10th, 1973. The next step in caring for chronically alcoholic men was the opening of St. Stephen’s House of London, in 1983, on English Street in London. For a brief period, from 1987 to 1988, two recovery homes operated: one on English Street and a second on Gower Street. Eventually the English Street property was sold and only the current home on Gower Street remains.
St. Stephen’s House of London was conceived as a long-term recovery home and respite for men. The men were to live in a homelike atmosphere where they were treated with care and respect. Their placement within St. Stephen’s House of London was longer than other short-term recovery placements available (which are generally 8 months). Eventually, most men rejoined their families and their community, as sober and participating members.
Initially, St. Stephen’s House of London was fully funded by the Sisters of St. Joseph. In 2000, as Sister St. Patrick became ill and unable to continue her ministry, Bev Thomson was approached to assume the role of manager, upon her retirement from Westover Treatment Centre. In 2004, St. Stephen’s House of London was turned over to Turning Point Inc., for the sum of $1, with the provision that Bev Thomson continue in her role. St. Stephen’s House of London continued to operate with no government funding or financial assistance from
Turning Point Incorporated.
St. Stephen’s House of London is funded by rent from the residents as well as funds raised within the community. In June 2013, due to a proposed change in focus, under Turning Point Inc., as well as input from St. Stephen’s House of London Alumni, the development of a stand-alone Recovery Home for men was initiated. By June 2014, St. Stephen’s House of London was incorporated and prepared to operate as a stand-alone, not-for-profit, charitable organization committed to the rehabilitation of men with chronic addiction problems, adhering to the initial vision of Sister St. Patrick.
In 2018 St Stephen’s House of London received a substantial inheritance. Through this gift we were able to purchase our women’s residence at 25 Blackfriars St. On February1, 2020, after a year and a half of renovations and countless volunteer hours, 25 Blackfriars opened for the first female residents.
Therefore, the primary service of St. Stephen’s House of London shall be the operation of recovery homes for men and women, who have the desire to remain clean and sober, as well as develop a healthy lifestyle. St. Stephen’s House of London’s recovery program is based in the concepts of the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.
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