I am pleased to write you with news of our latest funding successes:
SAMHSA Grant for Chronically Homeless Individuals
Last June, the Network and many of its partners collaborated with UMass Medical Center to submit a $1.5 million, 3 year grant to SAMHSA (the federal agency: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). We just learned that we are one of 20 recipients across the nation to receive this grant.
It will provide 150 chronically homeless people who suffer from mental and substance use disorders with comprehensive services to support their recovery and assist in sustaining their housing placements. The grant pays for the support services, but the housing units had to be earmarked as part of the application. The collaboration among our Network partners was critical to our success.
The Behavioral Health Network (BHN) is the lead subcontractor for the clinical services, in conjunction with Soldier On, which will run the veterans component. Our housing partners include the Springfield Housing Authority, Mental Health Association, Southern Middlesex Opportunity Council, Valley Community Development Corporation and the Northampton VA Medical Center. Other critical partners include: Health Care for the Homeless, Eliot CHS Homeless Services, Friends of the Homeless, ServiceNet and for the Central Mass. region, Community Healthlink (also a subcontractor in UMass Medical’s grant).
This grant offers both an exciting and challenging opportunity to house our chronically homeless population with the support they need to stay housed. The Network itself will receive $24,000 for each of the three years to help facilitate and coordinate the collaboration that is necessary. We are excited to get to work.
Education and Workforce Development Grant for Homeless/At-Risk Families
As you may already know (from the job posting announcement), the Network received a $10,000 grant from the Fireman Foundation to support the development of an action plan to address education and workforce development for homeless and at-risk families. We are in the process of hiring a consultant for the four month project now and expect the planning process will be underway within a couple of weeks. We are excited to participate in this statewide effort which will lay additional groundwork for the ultimate goal of sustainable housing for families.
Congratulations to us all!
