Centerstone has been awarded a $2 million, five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. The grant will help individuals experiencing homelessness and substance use disorders (SUD) or co-occurring disorders (COD) in Manatee and Sarasota Counties.

"Centerstone is honored to receive this grant and ready to get started," said Melissa Larkin-Skinner, Regional CEO for Centerstone. "The U.S. Conference of Mayors has identified substance use (68%), lack of affordable housing (60%), and mental illness (48%) as the top three causes of homelessness among single adults. With this grant, we will deliver care that will change the lives of many throughout Manatee and Sarasota Counties, and improve supports systems in our communities."

Centerstone will receive $400,000 per year for five years and use those funds to develop and/or expand local implementation of the following services: Evidence-based SUD, COD, and trauma treatment. Intensive community-based case management .Screenings and assessments. Linkages to primary and specialty care. Peer and wrap-around recovery supports such as employment and education services; benefits engagement and enrollment; and education and counseling on hepatitis treatment, sexually transmitted infection and HIV screening.

"Of those experiencing homelessness in the grant's coverage area, a significant percentage have substance use disorders and an even greater number have co-occurring disorders," said Larkin-Skinner. "This population not only faces barriers to treatment access and availability, but also multiple disparities, including high poverty, lack of affordable housing, and untreated or under-treated substance use and co-occurring disorders."

For more info.