Newbridge Place provides permanent homes and round-the-clock care for low-income veterans and neighbors living with co-occurring behavioral health and substance use disorders — so recovery has an address.
The problem
Many live with post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, or co-occurring behavioral health and substance use disorders — conditions that turn the usual path of shelters and short-term programs into a revolving door back to the street, the hospital, or jail.
They deserve better. They deserve a door that stays open.
Source: HUD Point-in-Time count. Updated annually.
What we do
Private rooms in real houses on a quiet street in Lodi — not an institution. Residents stay as long as they need, and for many, that means for good.
Trained staff on site 24 hours a day, coordinating medication, appointments, and support for co-occurring behavioral health and substance use disorders and traumatic brain injury.
Case management, benefits navigation, life skills, and a full calendar of activities — from backyard cookouts to trips our residents talk about all year.
Seeking placement for a veteran or loved one? Call 330‑948‑8000 — one conversation covers availability, funding, and next steps.
“I have never been on a vacation since the war.”— A Vietnam veteran and Newbridge resident, before his first vacation in over fifty years
Every year, our residents pack their bags for a weeklong vacation together — the lake, the resort, the long dinners, all of it. For some of our veterans, it is the first vacation of their adult lives. That's what stability makes possible: not just safety, but joy.
About us
Newbridge Place began in 1998 with a simple observation and a stubborn founder. Erzsebet “Liz” Mikita saw that adults living with serious behavioral health conditions — many of them veterans — weren't failing in housing because they lacked willpower. They were failing because no housing existed that was built for them: affordable, permanent, and staffed around the clock by people who knew their names. So she built it.
All three homes are licensed by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for its Community Residential Care and Medical Foster Care programs.
EST. 1998
Our original home on Wooster Street: 16 residents, fourteen private rooms and one shared, wheelchair accessible, with a private backyard. Veterans and non-veterans, men and women.
OPENED 2017
An eight-bed home dedicated to veterans, with priority placement for veterans who are Medicaid-eligible and experiencing homelessness. Live-in staff. Trained service dogs welcome.
A two-bed residence for residents ready for more autonomy — with a safety net that never disappears.
Leadership
Newbridge Place is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and led day to day by its founder. Together with a team of about 15 employees, they keep three homes running around the clock, every day of the year.
Realtor
Retired Executive Director of Alternative Paths, Inc., LISW-S
Bank manager
Veteran and business owner
Entrepreneur
Founded Newbridge Place in 1998 and has led it ever since
Accountability
Newbridge Place is independently audited every year. We operate without government operating subsidies, so every donated dollar is stewarded carefully — and we show our work. In 2025 we completed major capital improvements at both homes — new siding, roofing elements, HVAC, boiler, electrical, flooring, kitchen, sewer line, and paved parking — with our Executive Director serving as general contractor, positioning our facilities for years of low-maintenance operation. Download our audited financial statements below.
501(c)(3) nonprofit • EIN 51-0598275 • BBB Accredited Charity • Independent audit by Strong Point Accounting & Tax LLC
Inspiring stories, changing lives
“What growth I have seen in him has been transforming... Most of all, I have seen him start to believe in himself and that his life matters.”Anna, mother of a resident
As a mother of a 45-year-old son who was diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was 18 years old, Newbridge Place means to me that my son has finally found a safe haven. A place that helps him grow in a stable, alcohol and substance abuse free environment. A place that helps him make good decisions and gives him the opportunities to strengthen his self-esteem and see a purpose in his life.
My son struggled for about 27 years while trying to live independently. The time came when he could no longer live by himself. He needed to be in a safe environment with people that cared about him and his safety. In 2016, my son came to Newbridge Place to live.
With their daily care structure, agendas, work programs, and genuine love and compassion for their residents, I have watched my son regain his self-esteem, learn to communicate with intelligent conversations, and display caring and loving emotions. Most of all, I have seen him start to believe in himself and that his life matters. He has been given back a life that has purpose.
Every community needs a Newbridge Place — a safe haven whose mission is the safety and life-transforming help of those living with traumatic brain injuries, PTSD, and dual diagnoses. Newbridge Place gives men and women a place to live with dignity, respect, and love — not only our servicemen and women, to whom we owe so much, but others in our community who need our help too. I find it a great honor and a privilege to be an advocate and supporter of Newbridge Place.
“The heartfelt dedication and compassion that Elizabeth and the staff extend to the residents align with what I was searching for in a non-profit organization.”Joe Lattanzio, board member, past president & U.S. Army Reserves veteran
I was in search of an organization where I could volunteer my time and help people. A close friend of mine introduced me to Newbridge Place and I was so happy she did. I served in the US Army Reserves for 6 years, and a big part of my business today as a real estate agent is helping military veterans buy homes.
I now volunteer for Newbridge Place driving the veterans to their doctor appointments, and have been given the opportunity to serve on the Board to help promote the cause that Elizabeth, the Founder and Executive Director, has given her life to. Volunteering for Newbridge Place helps me continue my work in helping military veterans. Your contribution is greatly appreciated and will help Newbridge improve upon their goals of being of service to the community and improving conditions for those who are less fortunate.
“After a pasta dinner at the Medina Eagles Club, I suggested they start an annual campaign. The first year we raised around $15,000. Now we are raising nearly $40,000.”Richard Heilman, volunteer fundraiser
I contacted Ed Zackery at the Veteran Services Office in Medina and asked if he knew of any veteran organizations that did not receive federal funding. He told me of two: one at the Rittman National Cemetery, and Newbridge Place. After meeting the members of the Newbridge Place Board and their Director, I decided to help them raise some needed funds.
They were doing a lot of small fundraisers and overworking the volunteers. After a pasta dinner at the Medina Eagles Club, I suggested they start an annual campaign. The first year we raised around $15,000. Now we are raising nearly $40,000. This is very rewarding for me — now retired, I am still giving back to my community.
“Newbridge Place has a home-like atmosphere for residents, where family and friends are always welcome to visit.”Family member of a resident
The home has a large dining room and living room for the residents to gather for a variety of activities, as well as for dining or watching TV. It also has quiet areas for reading or visiting with family and friends.
Some of the residents' fun activities include football pizza parties and other seasonal get-togethers. In September, families and residents gather for a Labor Day picnic. In December, there's a wonderful Christmas party with all the trimmings for the residents and their families — and of course, Santa arrives to personally join in the fun! Other activities take place at community locations like the Cloverleaf Recreational Center, movie theaters, restaurants, and county fairs.
Impact
Stability isn't a warm feeling — it's a measurable intervention. When home is permanent, the 2 a.m. emergencies mostly stop happening.
reduction in crisis-service use — ERs, psychiatric hospitalization, police intervention — versus residents' lives before Newbridge
adults served every year across three licensed homes
trained staff providing 24-hour care, including live-in staff
government operating subsidies — this home runs on generosity
Annual Capital Campaign
Mid-September → Veterans Day, November 11Every fall, our community comes together for the eight weeks between mid-September and Veterans Day to fund what matters most: our low-income program. Many of our residents live on small disability or pension incomes that don’t cover the true cost of a home with round-the-clock care — and because we accept no government operating subsidies, this campaign is what closes that gap. No one is turned away because they are poor.
This year’s goal: $25,000 — keeping permanent supportive housing within reach of the low-income veterans and neighbors who need it most.
$10,000 raised toward $25,000 — thank you, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Medina Aerie, for leading the way.
Give to the campaignGiving by check? Write “Capital Campaign” in the memo line.
After a pasta dinner at the Medina Eagles Club, volunteer Richard Heilman suggested we stop exhausting our volunteers with a dozen small fundraisers and hold one annual campaign instead.
The first year, our community raised around $15,000. Today the campaign raises nearly $40,000 every fall — and it still ends the same way it began: with neighbors deciding our veterans deserve better.
Our supporters
Newbridge Place has operated for 28 years without a dollar of government operating subsidy — which means every meal, every staff shift, and every stable night was made possible by people and institutions who decided our veterans and neighbors deserve better.
Logos shown with each supporter's permission — replace text badges with logo images as permissions arrive.
Donate
Every dollar stays in Lodi, Ohio, keeping 26 veterans and neighbors safe, cared for, and home. Newbridge Place is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 51‑0598275); gifts are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Online: Give securely through PayPal using the buttons above — one-time or monthly, credit card or PayPal balance.
By check: Newbridge Place, 645 Wooster St., Lodi, OH 44254
Stock, IRA qualified charitable distributions, bequests, memorial gifts: call Liz Mikita at 330‑948‑8000
Employer matching: ask your HR office — many employers double your gift.
28 years of continuous operation • Licensed by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services • VA-certified residential care • BBB Accredited Charity • EIN 51‑0598275
Volunteer
Newbridge runs on a small staff and a big heart, and there is honest work here for almost any talent.
Contact & location
Newbridge Place
645 Wooster Street, Lodi, Ohio 44254
emikita@newbridgeplace.com
www.newbridgeplace.org
Seeking placement? Call us directly — you'll speak with someone who knows the program, current availability, and how funding works, usually in a single conversation. Visits by appointment: this is our residents' home, so call first, come warmly.
Work with us
Our staff are the reason three houses feel like homes. If you want work that matters — hands-on, human, and never boring — we'd love to hear from you.
Responsibilities include cooking, cleaning, assisting residents in daily activities, and driving. Some overnights and weekends are required. High school diploma, clean driving record, and background check are mandatory. Must be able to lift 30 lbs.
Pay: starting at $14–$16 per hour.
Complete the application and email it to emikita@newbridgeplace.com, or mail it to Newbridge Place, 645 Wooster St., Lodi, OH 44254.
Seeking housing
There is no housing application form. Veterans living with chronic mental illness who need structured housing can ask their VA case manager for a referral to the VA Community Residential Care program in the Medina County area. We are affiliated with the Mansfield VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), but referrals can come from any VA hospital or clinic, in any county or state.
Local community mental health agencies may also refer clients in need of our services. Beds are limited — please contact us about current availability.
Questions? Call 330-948-8000 or email emikita@newbridgeplace.com.
In-kind giving
Not every gift is a check. Three busy households go through everyday things the way big families do — and giving them is a wonderfully concrete way to help. Our current wish list:
Wish list updated July 10, 2025.
Call first: 330‑948‑8000 — we’ll confirm what’s needed most right now and arrange a drop-off time at 645 Wooster St.
Receipts: in-kind donations are tax-deductible; we’ll gladly provide a receipt for your records.
Trades & services count too: plumbing, painting, barbering, photography — skilled hands are some of our most valuable gifts.
Prefer to shop online? Call or email us and we’ll point you to what’s needed most — items can ship straight to the house.
