Fairweather Lodge

Fairweather Lodge residential and vocational support program

Fairweather Lodge is a residential and vocational community program providing opportunities for individuals diagnosed with persistent mental health challenges.

By providing emotional support, a place to live and employment for its members, the Fairweather Lodge Program helps people with mental illness reintegrate into the community.

Meet Bernard Custard – just one of many Fairweather Lodge success stories! 

Stairways currently operates 8 Fairweather Lodges in Erie County – the highest number of lodges in any county across the commonwealth.

Stairways Behavioral Health is also designated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to train other counties in establishing Fairweather Lodge programs in their communities. Contact our consultant for more information.


About the Program

The Fairweather Lodge Program was developed by Dr. George Fairweather in California in 1963. Through extensive studies, Fairweather found that people with serious mental illness are less likely to return to the hospital when they live and work together as a group – rather than living and working individually.

Fairweather’s research also showed that the Lodge Program helps people stay in the community longer, provides more employment opportunities, and costs less than conventional treatment programs.

Because of the success of the original groups, the Fairweather Lodge Program has expanded considerably.

More information about Dr. George Fairweather and Fairweather Lodge parent organization, the Coalition for Community Living, may be found at: www.theccl.org.

Contact Information and Location Map

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Fairweather Lodge
Tina Loomis 814.878.2106
E-mail: tloomis@stairwaysbh.org

510 West 10th Street
Erie, PA 16502
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Programs for Adults



“(Stairways) helped me to work on recovery one step at a time.” – Ron S.


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