NORTHEAST OHIO’S OLDEST ADDICTION TREATMENT PROVIDER

Founded in 1948, Stella Maris is one of two stand-alone detox providers in Greater Cleveland, and the only facility where clients can move through a full continuum of care on one campus block; withdrawal management (detox), inpatient, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, recovery management, and supportive housing.

This continuum of care is augmented with wraparound services including case management, family therapy, medication assisted treatment (MAT), peer support, post-acute withdrawal management, primary medical care, psychiatry services, specialized groups for underserved populations, trauma therapy, 12- step groups, art, equine and music therapy, group therapy sessions, and workforce development programs that include one-on-one coaching, role-playing for interviews, goal setting, and culinary training. Stella Maris meets outside needs, such as GED (General Education Diploma) preparation, permanent housing, legal services, and supportive services for families through referrals to community-based partners and collaborators. 

Stella Maris’s continuum of treatment supports individuals on their path to recovery and helps them achieve results that regularly surpass industry standards on average by 30% across all levels of care. Stella Maris’s most recent outcomes show:

• 73% detox success rate, as compared to a 32% national average

• 82% completion rate for outpatient services, as compared to a 42% national average

• 79% of individuals in outpatient programs moved through Stella Maris’s continuum of care, accessing and successfully completing multiple programs that   support sustained recovery

• 100% of individuals who complete treatment have housing following their care at Stella Maris

A Community Partner in Northeast Ohio

At Stella Maris, you are never alone in the fight against addiction. We work with many community partners: other treatment agencies, outreach programs, government agencies, health care centers, the Veterans Administration (V.A.), drug courts, five local police departments, and many Northeast Ohio social service organizations. We also collaborate with local colleges and universities through internships and fellowship programs.

Stella Maris is approved by national, state and local bodies that set standards of care.

Stella Maris has contracts with funders such as Veterans Administration, ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County, the Cuyahoga County Department of Homeless Services and Lorain County Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services. We also receive donations from individuals, corporations, foundations and other organizations.

Stella Maris is proud to have been awarded The Joint Commission’s Comprehensive Accreditation Manual for Behavioral Health Care and Human Services.

*Professional facts: The U.S. government uses the poverty level to determine who may receive federal subsidies and aid. In 2018, the poverty income level for one person is $12,140.

How did Stella Maris make a difference last year? Check out our latest Impact Report. Dive into the stories, statistics, and successes that showcase our unwavering commitment to our community.

• 2024 Annual Impact Report

• 2023 Annual Impact Report

In 1948, Stella Maris (Latin for “Star of the Sea”) opened its doors. Father Otis Winchester of the neighboring St. Malachi Church and members of a relatively new organization, Alcoholics Anonymous, recognized the need for a place to house and support homeless men through their recovery from alcohol dependency.

Originally housing 11 men who were undergoing alcoholic treatment and recovery, Stella Maris was a refuge where they received three meals a day, a prescribed course of treatment, and the camaraderie of others. The goal was to end their addiction and rebuild their lives.

Today, Stella Maris continues to identify needs and develop programs to meet them. As experts in substance abuse treatment, we offer comprehensive services to help adults move from addiction to recovery and begin to lead a substance-free life.

We treat more than 5,400 individuals per year through a connected set of programs and services that we call a “Continuum of Care.” For 76 years, Stella Maris has operated on the same city block in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood.

May 10, 1948  –  Stella Maris opened its doors 

1968 – Two buildings: a hospital, and a dormitory for 73 men.

1981 – Three buildings with a monthly operating budget of $35,000, and renovated our detoxification center to become certified for insurance payments.

1985 – Margaret B. Roche became executive director and led Stella Maris until retirement in 2012.

1989 – Began inpatient treatment for alcohol and drug addiction, including detoxification, counseling, aftercare and job referrals. Operated a halfway house for former addicts and a retail store selling refurbished items.

1999 – Completed a capital campaign and renovated our 16-bed detoxification unit.

2001 – Acquired Joint Commission accreditation, which demonstrated a high quality of service and made contracts with health insurance companies possible.

2002 – Contracted with all major health insurers in Northeast Ohio as a provider of detoxification treatment, and implemented an electronic health records system for the detoxification unit.

2005 – Completed a capital campaign and renovated our 40-bed men’s dormitory, and received the Woodruff Prize for “Outstanding Agency in the Field of Chemical Dependency Treatment”.

2006 – Completed a $2.7 million capital campaign to build the Gallagher Outpatient Center and expand chemical dependency and mental health treatment services. The Center also offered new space for 12-Step meetings, a 120-seat auditorium, and a 1,500-square-foot coffee shop where alumni and others in recovery could share their experiences with the newly sober.

2007 – Recognized for “Outstanding Work” by the ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County, and collaborated with Recovery Resources and Community Challenge in a year-long Children of Alcoholics Outreach Collaboration initiative.

2008 – Certified by Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services (OMHAS) and accredited by the Joint Commission, ensuring that our programs and services meet the highest standards in behavioral medicine and the needs of those served.

2012 – Installed an electronic medical records and billing system, acquired certification by OHMAS and renovated our detoxification unit.

2017 - Opened Carlyle House, recovery house for adult males, 18 years and older.

2018 – Opened Walton House, recovery house for adult females, 18 years and older.

2019 – Launched a capital campaign and broke ground for a new withdrawal management (detox) and Central Intake Building.

2020 - Opened Residential Housing to offer ASAM level 3.5 of care and launched an LGBTQ+ Track of service.

2021 - Opened 18-bed supportive housing unit for adult females in the old Saint Malachi Convent.

2022 - Re-opened the renovated Stella Maris Coffee Shop. This “Coffee Shop with a purpose” is open daily to the general public and provides a safe, sober environment for everyone.

2023 - Renovated and re-opened the 120-seat auditorium, which is connected to the Stella Maris Coffee Shop.

2023 - Opened The Bridge House at St. Pats, 19-bed recovery house for adult females.

2025 - Opened Winchester House on 10th Street in Tremont, 10-bed recovery house for adult males.