A Nashua mental health center that was destroyed in a February gas explosion is set to reopen at a new location, bringing services that have been scattered across temporary sites back together under one roof.
Greater Nashua Mental Health, a nonprofit community mental health center, has renovated a site at 3 Pine St. Ext. in Nashua that will house the center’s client intake services, as well as services around substance use disorder, justice, older adults and individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
“This opening represents an important step forward in restoring stability and continuity of care for the individuals and families we serve,” said Cynthia Whitaker, president and CEO of Greater Nashua Mental Health, in a statement. “This space reflects our commitment to being here for our clients and our community, no matter what.”
The new space is set to open to the public on Aug 10.
The community mental health center’s previous facility, located at 440 Amherst St., was destroyed by a natural gas explosion and fire on Feb. 2 around 2:20 p.m. The blast injured three firefighters.
According to the State Fire Marshal’s Office, employees and patients had evacuated the building shortly before the explosion after noticing the smell of gas. But the fire left the building completely destroyed.
In the months since, the center’s programs have operated out of temporary sites across the organization.
“The fire posed real challenges to our organization, but our clinical teams and community partners made sure care continued without interruption,” Whitaker said.
The consolidation at the new Pine Street Ext. location will bring those scattered services back together, improving operational efficiency and enhancing the experience for individuals and families seeking support, Whitaker said.
The new site is within walking distance of Greater Nashua Mental Health’s emergency services at 5 Pine St. Ext.
“We have been part of this community’s fabric for over 105 years,” said Whitaker. “We are deeply grateful for the community’s support, and we continue to count on it as we build toward what’s next together.”
