Somerville House
167 Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02143

Physical Description

Somerville House has been in operation as a 24-hour-staffed group home since 1980.  It is a three story Victorian house with a finished basement.  Somerville House has rooms for nine adults. There are four bedrooms on each of the second and third floors, and one handicap accessible bedroom on the first floor, that is equipped with its own bathroom.  There is a shared bathroom on each of the other floors of the house.

The kitchen is expansive, with six-burner gas stove island, two ovens, two sinks, plentiful counter space, two refrigerators and a freezer.  Residents enjoy cooking.  Those who are on the meal plan take turns planning and cooking dinner weekly.  Somerville House has been newly painted on the exterior.  Air conditioning is provided in summer months in the living room and staff office.  The living room is a popular gathering area in the evenings.

The recreation room is in the basement, and is furnished with a pool table, radio, craft supplies and games.  The laundry machines are also located in the basement.  In spring and summer, residents like to spend time on the front and back porches.   They often make use of the outdoor grill for cooking.  Several residents also enjoy planting potted plants to adorn the front of the program.  One resident recently described the program as "homey."

Neighborhood

Somerville House is conveniently located near Davis Square in one direction, and Lechmere Station in the other. Davis Square is a twenty-minute walk from the house down Highland Avenue.  Many services are available in Davis Square, including banks a post office, the Social Security Administration, health services, and many new shops and restaurants.  Even closer to Somerville House are the Somerville Public Library, as well as many restaurants and stores.

There are bus stops within yards of Somerville House in either direction for the two bus lines that run down Highland Avenue traveling to Davis Square, Assembly Square Mall, Sullivan Station or Lechmere Station.  From Lechmere, the Green Line train can be accessed, and from Davis Square one can access the Red Line train.  From Sullivan Station, the orange line can be accessed.  One resident stated, "The thing that I like about this house is location, location, location."

Staff and Program

Somerville House provides twenty-four hour staffing.