4C Health awarded federal SAMHSA Grant to Benefit Individuals Experiencing Homelessness

4C Health awarded 2.5 Million Dollar SAMHSA Federal Grant to Address Rural Homeless Street Outreach in Cass, Miami, and Howard Counties

4C Health was recently awarded a federal SAMHSA grant to address rural homeless street outreach in 3 North Central Indiana Counties: Cass, Miami, and Howard. The 2.5 million dollar grant will support services to benefit individuals experiencing homelessness over the next 5 years. Services comprise of Peer Recovery Specialists and Assertive Community Treatment Specialists serving on street outreach teams in each community.

The REACH (Rural Enhancement and Access for Consumers Experiencing Homelessness) project will:

·         Increase access and capacity to connect to behavioral health and substance use treatment, harm reduction services, case management, and recovery support services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the targeted rural communities

·         Increase the communities’ capacity to provide stable permanent housing to individuals and families experiencing homelessness

·         Increase access to whole health care and physician wellness needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness

·         Increase stability of care and housing transition for individuals and families experiencing homelessness by implementing strategies that deliver case management, care coordination, and service delivery planning.

4C Health will accomplish these goals and objectives by developing Street Outreach Teams that provide outreach and other engagement strategies to unsheltered (including encampments) and sheltered populations to increase access to, and participation and retention in, harm reduction, case management, treatment, and recovery support services. All services available through 4C Health will be available to individuals engaged in the REACH program, including comprehensive case management; substance use and mental health services, including medication-assisted opioid treatment; recovery support services such as help with securing childcare, transportation, education and vocational support, and recovery housing; and identifying sustainable permanent housing opportunities. The REACH project will also seek to increase permanent supportive housing options and have at least one additional option available in each of the targeted counties by the end of the grant period.

Carrie Cadwell, CEO of 4C Health, stated, “When we think of addressing homelessness, most think of urban areas, but rural homelessness is very real reality and equally important to recognize and address. I am so very proud to be able to undertake this project in concert with multiple partners in each county. Addressing homelessness and housing insecurity is best addressed together, it is not solvable by one entity alone”