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$6.9 million was awarded to organizations that provide substance abuse services.
Mayor Wu and The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) today announced several investments and efforts to expand access Substance abuse services and recovery supports in the city of Boston. The new investments, supported by $6.9 million in American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funds, will increase street resilience, expand employment opportunities for individuals experiencing substance abuse, and make recovery and harm reduction services more accessible to more residents in the Boston area.
This expanded access includes the establishment of two new low-threshold sites, providing daytime harm reduction services and medical and treatment referrals, while maintaining barriers to entry. The facilities provide access to food, water and bathrooms. On site, they offer support groups and wellness activities. The new locations are managed by Whittier Street Community Health Center in the Tremont Street area of ​​Roxbury and Victory Programs Inc. This includes harm reduction services at the Boston Living Center in Back Bay.
“These measures bring us closer to ensuring that every person affected by drug use is connected to city services and has a safe and stable path to recovery,” he said. Mayor Michelle Wu. “These two new low-level day facilities expand our comprehensive approach to supporting unsheltered individuals with substance use disorders and fill critical gaps in the continuum of care. I am grateful to Whittier Street Community Health Center and Victory Programs for partnering with us to lower barriers and help more residents get the care they need.” , connect wherever you are.
In May, Mayor Wu announced that the city would open two new day centers to bring more services to more communities. These new sites support the city’s ongoing public health response to support unsheltered individuals with substance use disorders.
“Whittier Street Community Health Center and Victory Programs have exceptional track records of providing equity-focused care and comprehensive health care services, and their partnership is critical to achieving our goal of providing a person-centered and compassionate response to substance use disorders.” Dr. A.S. Bisola Ojikutu, Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission and Commissioner of Public Health. “Recovery is impossible without comprehensive support systems and a strong community. The low-start date locations and other investments announced today will make services more accessible to more communities, allow us to innovate in our approach and tailor our responses to precisely meet the needs of the Boston public.
“We are excited to partner with the City of Boston and the Boston Public Health Commission to open a day center in Whittier that will support members of our community. This center is an extension of our mission, and we have a unique presence in the city, ready to respond to the ongoing epidemic of untreated addiction and mental health among the transient population and to reach out to any individual who needs treatment. and social Services that help improve their overall well-being Frederica M. Williams, president and CEO of Whittier Street Health Center. “This is an incredibly important initiative for the city of Boston to undertake, and we are proud to be working with them on this.”
“Thanks to BPHC and the City of Boston, we are able to expand our low-level program offerings. Victory programs have long been working to help our city’s most vulnerable citizens. Sarah Porter, Executive Director of Victory Programs. “By offering judgment-free services in a safe and welcoming space, we continue Boston Living Center’s proud tradition of nurturing community for those who need it most.”
Another way to expand services to neighborhoods in the city is to create neighborhood engagement groups that lead to services involving individuals with substance abuse and housing problems. The teams disseminate education to businesses and collaborate to identify local needs and solutions. These groups lead Torch light recovery team In Nubian Square and East Boston Community Health Center. In a request for proposals, the Boston Public Health Commission sought organizations with high interest to sponsor community engagement groups in up to three neighborhoods. Eligible neighborhoods included Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan, and East Boston as determined by three indicators, the CDC Social Vulnerability Index, Boston EMS responses to opioid overdoses, and 311 inquiries related to unsheltered individuals.
“Torch Light is deeply rooted in the Nubian community and our engagement staff support businesses and their work with individuals in need to change perspectives and make a difference,” he said. Minister Randy Mohammed, Director of the Torchlight Recovery Team. “We are grateful to receive funding and work towards the goal of ensuring that everyone in Nubian Square has access to resources and access to health.”
In addition, funding is provided to the following initiatives and organizations:
Low-level work programs, providing individuals with substance abuse problems with a means of earning an income and developing a sense of self-sufficiency.
- Addiction recovery resourcesTo compensate peers by collecting inappropriately discarded needles from the ground and collecting pre-employment opportunities and wellness referrals.
- Newmarket Trade AssociationTo provide a comprehensive program including payment of a day job program with opportunity for employment, case management and safety referrals.
Recovery community organizations
- PhoenixTo run free wellness and community programs for anyone who needs to abstain from substances for 48 hours.
- Gavin Foundation To help fund the opening of a new residential program for women.
- NamaStay Sober To offer health and meditation programs as well as gym memberships for people in recovery.
- Resources for recoveryTo establish a referral station in the Hyde Park area, provide support groups and education to caregivers of people with SUD.
“The most urgent issues in this city are the opioid crisis and homelessness. “I saw firsthand how devastating the Covid-19 pandemic was to individuals like this, and I knew I needed to allocate ARPA federal funding to help fight these kinds of issues,” he said. Councilor Erin Murphy. “As chair of the Public Health, Homelessness and Recovery Council, I strongly advocate for much-needed funding for public health nonprofits and recovery programs. These organizations build a pipeline for those in recovery to a community based on inclusiveness and connection. They are a big part of the solution, but they are limited by their funds.
“We know that the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the epidemic of our behavior, and I am proud that the Boston City Council approved these funds in July to support the various organizations that are helping to deal with the crisis on all sides. City Councilor Kenzie Bok.
The America’s Rescue Plan Act provides emergency funding to states and municipalities to build a strong public health foundation and help the economy recover from COVID-19.
The investments announced today come at a time of greatest need for the City of Boston and its residents. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to disruptions in medical care and increased behavioral health conditions and substance use disorders. From 2020 to 2021, fatal opioid-related overdoses increased by 8.8 percent in Massachusetts. Similarly, Boston EMS responded to 9% more narcotics-related incidents in 2021 compared to 2020. State Data In the year As of 2021, non-Hispanic black men accounted for the largest increase in opioid overdose deaths, emphasizing the need for an equitable approach.
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