Centre Helps, the nonprofit that provides 24/7 crisis support and resource assistance, celebrated the latest chapter in its history on Wednesday with the ribbon cutting for its new headquarters at 406 S. Pugh St., a building that once served as the Alpha Chi Sigma fraternity house.
The event, which coincided with World Suicide Prevention Day, drew local leaders, borough officials and community members to commemorate the adaptive revitalization of the century-old house. Following the ceremony, attendees toured the renovated building and visited food trucks set up for the occasion.
The $3.2 million project was spearheaded by the State College Redevelopment Authority (RDA), which acquired the property in 2021 with a deed restriction requiring it be preserved for housing or human services purposes. A $1.5 million loan from the borough, combined with Centre Helps’ $150,000 contribution and additional RDA funds, made the redevelopment possible.
Phase 1 of the project focused on creating 5,763 square feet of office space for Centre Helps, with upgrades including a new elevator, ADA-accessible parking and building-wide energy efficiency improvements. The organization moved into its new home earlier this year.
For Centre Helps, which provides case management and basic needs assistance on top of its 24/7 crisis hotline, the move came at a critical time. Its previous location on South Fraser Street lacked adequate space for its staff and services.
Finding new space was one of the top priorities of the organization’s strategic plan, according to Denise McCann, Centre Helps executive director.
“While our old office space was lovely, we had simply outgrown it,” McCann said. “Hotline staff had only two work stations, despite often having three or four counselors on shift. Our basic needs counselors lacked private spaces to meet with clients, and our conference room was too small for training classes, which meant we had to split them in half and run twice as many sessions. Centre Helps staff do incredible work. They do hard work, meaningful work, and they deserve a space that supports that work.”
Phase 2, scheduled for next year, will convert parts of the building into four ADA-accessible, affordable housing units for low-income tenants.
State College Mayor Ezra Nanes kicked off the ceremony by highlighting both the symbolism and the urgency of the project to a crowd of dozens of supporters.
“No one should go through that kind of struggle alone. And how appropriate is it to open this new facility during Suicide Prevention Month…,” Nanes said. “At the same time, this building speaks to another pressing need in our community, something that arises out of a positive need. It’s our growth and desire for people to live, work and study here in State College. We need affordable housing.
“And the borough, working through and with the Redevelopment Authority, committed to addressing this challenge of more housing head on. By transforming a former fraternity into a space that combined Centre Helps’ new headquarters with future affordable housing units, we are putting that commitment into action and ensuring that more people have the housing that they need to thrive here.”
Following Nanes’ remarks, Borough Council President Evan Myers reflected on the building’s past and future.
“This building has quite a history,” Myers said. “Originally built in 1923 as a fraternity house, it stood for decades as a space for student life. Today, after vision, planning and renovations, begins a new chapter, one rooted in service, compassion and community. What was once a house for a few will now become the home for hope, support and opportunity.”
He also emphasized the strain on local organizations and the importance of collaboration.
“These costs have strained organizations to provide the very safety nets so many of our neighbors depend on, whether it’s crisis intervention, housing or emotional support,” Myers said. “Yet in the face of these challenges, Centre Helps and so many others have never stopped showing up. They’ve doubled down with this new facility in a better position.”
RDA Vice-Chair Mark Huncik shared how the preservation of the historic property was central to the project while repurposing it as a vital community resource.
Huncik also noted that the building exceeded energy efficiency standards and credited local contractors, including architect Weber Murphy Fox and general contractor Poole Anderson, along with Mid State Roofing, Quality Hardware and Sterling Stoneworks for restoration work.
“We are not done. We have more to do,” he added, “We have four ADA accessible, affordable housing units coming to this building.”
As the borough’s first tenant in the redeveloped building, Centre Helps symbolizes the “home for hope, support and opportunity” that Nanes described.
McCann tied the organization’s mission to the broader significance of the day.
“In suicide prevention, we know that connection is one of the strongest protective factors we can offer, and we’ve heard about many connections and partnerships that have happened to make this happen,” McCann said. “So every person in our community can play a role in suicide prevention. By stepping outside of ourselves, even just a little bit in our everyday interactions, we can support meaningful connections, and in doing so, we can actively create a kind of community that enriches all of our lives.”
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly identified Redevelopment Authority Vice-Chair Mark Huncik’s last name.
