Four bands will perform live in concert on Sunday evening to raise funds for the new nonprofit branch of a local mental health rehabilitation service and housing placement agency.
Don Z and The Science, Collective Disturbance, Fat Nave, and The Nighthawks will perform at the “Rocking Out for Mental Health” concert at 5 p.m. on Sunday at McGinty’s Public House, located at the Ellsworth Place mall in downtown Silver Spring.
Transition House assists adults aged 28 to 40 in a residential environment, facilitating their move to independent living and providing specialized assisted living for seniors. At the event, Transition House will introduce the Transition House Foundation, a nonprofit branch aimed at launching a fundraising campaign for new mental health initiatives.
The Foundation will open a new group home next year to better serve younger adults needing care, offering services beyond traditional assisted living, including recreational activities. The organization aims to connect crisis intervention with long-term independence, creating a supportive environment for individual growth.
Transition House describes itself as a model for statewide residential and home-based behavioral health services.
“We are looking to open a group home early next year,” says Evan Taff, co-owner of Transition House, estimating a February launch. “The group home will not function at all like a crisis center or addiction house or anything like that. It will mainly be for mental health. The goal for expansion would be to continue to have more homes.”
Transition House is partnering with Olney realtor Karen Rollings to develop a plan for a group home.
“As of now, we have a small waiting list for a couple of people who could go there and we will have a living caregiver and a room or two for respite situations that can help buffer family dynamics and discharges from crisis centers and hospitals,” Taff added.
Taff said that the timing of the plan couldn’t be better.
Adults with mental health needs face significant challenges in Montgomery and Howard counties, as well as nationwide, with over one in five people having a mental illness, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health. Those with serious issues often need alternative housing due to difficulties in finding affordable options, and many do not receive the necessary care.
Significant gaps in care remain, according to Taff.
“(Montgomery) County has done a great thing by buying homes and turning them into privately owned assisted living facilities, but they are all still for elderly and for aged 55 and other,” Taff said. “We hope to change that on a variety of levels by providing different homes with different kinds of activities – all focused on positive mental health and a healing mindset.”
“Our ultimate goal is to have homes for men between 21 and 55 and homes for women of the same age, and then homes for the elderly that would concentrate more on quality end-of-life care, and more nature-based and outside outings, less like assisted living facilities where everything is in house, and recreational activities are usually done in the house,” Taff added.
The Transition House model provides 24/7 care management for individuals aged 21 to 55, along with short-term housing and daily living support. It promotes sustainable community living through resource referrals and offers educational consultations for families regarding mental health challenges and holistic care coordination.
Transition House is not a crisis center and does not engage with individuals recently released from jail or those exhibiting violent behavior. It plans to expand its program for low-income individuals but currently does not accept medical insurance.
Transition House is owned by Taff, who is also a life coach, and a partnership that includes Beth Albaneze of the award-winning House Calls Total Wellness, established in 2002, along with Devi Dalta, who operates the assisted living facilities Elderly Care USA and Atrium House in Maryland.
The ownership group also includes Tori Ingram, a discharge liaison and outreach coordinator, and Cardell Patillo, an experienced executive director and school board member.
“This is our first fundraiser, and the main goal is to create some recognition in the community that we are available to help, especially for low-income families experiencing a crisis that does not meet a crisis center,” Taff says of the Transition House Foundation. “We can help with our nonprofit to help them with case management. We hope to continue to have more homes to be able to help both men and women with health needs and elderly, and have homes set up for each throughout the country.”
“We are not suitable yet for low-income because we’ve just started and we’re having our inaugural fundraiser and have yet to locate significant donors or investors. We’re looking at fundraisers to spread the word about our mission,” Taff continued.
According to Taff, the Transition House Foundation aims to enhance its nonprofit efforts to support low-income families through donations. “If a family is in a situation where they can’t afford services, then donations and fundraisers that bulk up the nonprofit to pay for those intakes,” Taff said.
The organization is seeking various donations, with contributions of $5,000, $2,500, and $1,000 recognized through plaques or other acknowledgments.
“Our goal is for these homes to be donated and put the names of people on wings of the house with plaques highlighting the donation and the people and family behind it,” Taff said.
“Rocking Out for Mental Health” kicks off at 5 p.m. on Sunday, December 22, at McGinty’s Public House, located at 911 Ellsworth Drive in downtown Silver Spring. Tickets can be purchased at livingthroughchange.com.