Danny’s House, a nonprofit recovery house in Mt. Airy for women battling addiction, was founded by Mariellen Paulus in 2019 in honor of her son Daniel, who died of an overdose on Feb. 28, 2016. According to Paulus, Danny was the type of person to give the shirt off his back to others fighting addiction and homelessness.

“It was a dream and a determination of mine after Dan passed away that he would be remembered,” Paulus said. “I believe he’s continuing to help other addicts. …He was a very caring person, and [Danny’s House], I believe, is just an extension of his spirit. I’m very proud of it and I’m very happy that it exists.”

Building the bridge

Called to action by Danny’s addiction and mental health struggles, Paulus earned a master’s degree as an addiction counselor. Prior to founding Danny’s House, she worked at Interim House, a residential substance use treatment program for women that was also in Mt. Airy before closing in 2025. While at Interim House, Paulus found that many of the women were accomplishing big things — becoming at least six months sober, finding a job, attending recovery meetings in the community — but they couldn’t afford the next step of getting housing.

“I wanted to fill that void,” Paulus explained. “At Danny’s House, we opened trying to be that connection or bridge between treatment and living out in the community.”

Paulus found a house on West Upsal Street and recruited Tiffany David, who also worked at Interim House, to join the new organization. David now serves as the director of Danny’s House.

Providing support

Danny’s House provides up to two years of supportive recovery housing for women ages 18 and up who completed long-term addiction treatment. The organization offers structure and support so that women can strengthen the behaviors learned in treatment, build a sober support network, and stabilize their finances.

In 2023, the organization bought the property directly adjacent to Danny’s House. The two houses are now used to distinguish between the women’s stages of recovery. The first house, which accomodates nine, is for women in their first year at Danny’s House. The second house, which with space for seven, is for women in their second year, and allows for more independent living.

While at Danny’s House, residents are expected to have a job and be saving money. They pay a subsidized rent and attend weekly household meetings. Every Wednesday, Danny’s House holds workshops on topics such as money management, budgeting, health, relationships and more. David, who has been in recovery for 15 years herself, said the main service available to the women is 24-hour support.

“It’s recovery support, it’s job support, it’s emotional support,” David said. “We work with them daily on how to not only engage with others in our house, so interpersonal, but also outside — within their jobs, within their outpatient [programs], their families.”

A ‘one-of-a-kind’ recovery house

As a nonprofit, Danny’s House is funded by grants and donations. For instance, the Rotary Club of Chestnut Hill recently provided a grant that made it possible for the decks on the back of the two houses to connect. Other supporters of Danny’s House include the Scattergood Foundation, the Patricia Kind Family Foundation, the Green Family Foundation and more.

Danny’s House has three paid employees and also pays stipends to senior women who are about to leave the house to help with evening coverage. According to David, Danny’s House is a “one-of-a-kind” recovery house where the staff is fully committed to helping others.

“We really do put our hearts into this place,” David said. “Everybody that works here is not here for a paycheck. …The grace and the care that we give the women here is what helps them stay clean. To know that there are people who will stand by them even on their worst days.”

David and Paulus, whose lives have been impacted by addiction, believe there are a lot of misconceptions about the disorder.

“I think the main [misconception] is that [addiction] is something that people can control,” David said. “I still think that we really struggle with identifying it as a disease and something that individuals have no control over. Nobody wants to be an addict. …The judgment people put on addicts, even people in recovery, is just really sad to me and I wish that we could change that.”

Although addiction remains misunderstood by many people, Paulus, David and the others at Danny’s House say they are committed to serving as a beacon of hope for women who are struggling.

To learn more about Danny’s House, visit dannys-house.org.

Maggie Dougherty can be reached at Margaret@chestnuthilllocal.com.