$2.7 million in grant money from MDHHS has been split and awarded to several mental health organizations in Michigan to help residents get a ride to substance-abuse treatment programs.
Nearly 3,000 people in Michigan died from drug overdoses in 2022. Lack of access to transportation is one of the many barriers that Michiganders face when seeking treatment for substance abuse, especially those who live in rural and low-income areas.
As part of an effort to reduce drug overdose deaths in the state, Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has awarded $2.7 million in grant money to 17 local organizations to help increase access to services for low-income Michiganders that are seeking—or are currently getting—help treating substance abuse issues. The funding is being made available through the Michigan Opioid Healing and Recovery Fund.
The money will be used to improve the selected organizations’ transportation services so they can better help people get to and from appointments and other supportive services. Money will also be given to agencies to support the distribution of gas cards, bus passes, and taxi/rideshare services.
The grant award period begins Nov. 1, 2023 and runs through Sept. 30, 2024. These are the 17 organizations being awarded funding:
- Blue Water Recovery & Outreach Center (St. Clair County) – $194,338
- CARE of Southeast Michigan (Macomb County) – $18,455
- Community Mental Health Services of Muskegon County (Muskegon County) – $199,659
- CRC Recovery (Kent and Washtenaw Counties) – $139,525
- Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians (Leelanau County) – $101,437
- Great Lakes Recovery Centers (Marquette County) – $200,000
- Home of New Vision (Jackson County) – $200,000
- List Psychological Services (Sanilac County) – $200,000
- Live Rite Structured Recovery Corp (Macomb County) – $200,000
- Mid-Michigan Recovery Services (Ingham County) – $150,059
- Our Hope Association (Kent County) – $200,000
- Quality Behavioral Health (Wayne County) – $200,000
- Sacred Heart (Berrien, Mackinac, and Macomb Counties) – $156,931
- Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan (Isabella County) – $194,776
- Serenity House of Flint (Genesee County) – $200,000
- WAI-IAM (Ingham County) – $120,371
- Wedgwood Christian Services (Kent County) – $112,211
