BUFFALO, NY (April 29, 2022) — Jericho Road Community Health Center’s bid to acquire the former Bristol Home assisted living facility at 1500 Main Street has been approved and is now official.
Jericho Road will be moving its Vive Shelter for asylum seekers from its current home at 50 Wyoming Avenue to 1500 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14209. The parcel contains multiple buildings, which previously made up an assisted living facility operated by Bristol Home.
“To people running from violence, war, persecution, and other desperate conditions, Vive represents hope for anew beginning in a safe place,” says Dr. Myron Glick, Jericho Road’s founder and CEO. “This shelter is where people finally feel that they don’t have to look over their shoulders or sleep with one eye open anymore. Moving Vive into 1500 Main Street will help us give our residents the warm and welcoming refuge they deserve.”
The main building will be renovated to Vive’s needs, which will include:
- Smaller dorm rooms that will allow individuals and families to have their own private living space
- Kitchen and cafeteria
- Classroom/computer lab Recreation areas, including an indoor playroom and outdoor playground
- Quiet room
- Barbershop
- Legal and program offices
- An Article 28 medical clinic, open only to Vive residents
The other buildings comprise eight rental units, many of which are currently occupied by tenants who will be permitted to remain in their units after Jericho Road acquires the property. Jericho Road will continue to use these as rental units, which will provide a sustainable source of revenue for Vive.
“Bristol Home is proud to work with Jericho Road in their efforts to move their Vive Shelter to 1500 Main Street in the City of Buffalo,” says Mike Helbringer, President/CEO of Bristol Home. “We can’t think of a better way for the 153 year ‘tradition of caring’ of The Bristol Home to continue at ‘The Big Blue House on Main Street’ Jericho Road’s commitment to provide safety and shelter to those who most need it provides the ideal continued use of this historic property.”
Jericho Road plans to renovate the building this spring and summer and begin moving Vive’s operations to 1500 Main Street in late 2022.
About Jericho Road:
Jericho Road Community Health Center provides wholistic healthcare for the underserved and marginalized communities in Buffalo and across the world in order to demonstrate the unconditional love of Jesus. Our vision is for Buffalo to become a city with abundant opportunity for the underserved and marginalized to be healthy, educated, and whole. Vive was founded in 1984 by members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, NY. In 2015, Vive was acquired by Jericho Road and is now one of Jericho Road’s community programs.
About Bristol Home:
Originally founded as The Home for The Friendless, The Bristol Home cared for the less fortunate elderly women of our community since 1868 until we made the very difficult decision to close our doors in 2021.