The homeless in the Lansing-area, Detroit and Berrien County will be getting some help, thanks to a federal grant awarded to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Those who are chronically homeless and dealing with severe mental illness, substance use problems or other disorders, will receive services through $4.5 million in federal grant funds.
The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrator has approved a three-year grant of $1.5 million per year to MDHHS, according to a release. The grant dollars will expand to the Greater Lansing Area and Berrien County Michigan Housing and Recovery Initiative. The initiative is now operating in Detroit.
“This is important work that will move us closer to ending chronic homelessness in Michigan,” said MDHHS Director Nick Lyon. “People experiencing homelessness face significant challenges. We need to continue providing services that remove these barriers and help people move toward life-long success.”
Services will include outreach, housing navigation, mental health and substance abuse services. It will also provide linkage to primary health care and mainstream benefits, and ongoing housing case management, according to the release.
People will receive services and case management under the Housing First model, which values housing as the primary need to be addressed and then wraps intensive services around the household to address barriers, states the release.
In addition to providing services, MDHHS will use grant dollars to enhance statewide partnerships and improve the overall infrastructure of the homeless service delivery system in Michigan. Goals will include improving employment outcomes, increasing affordable housing options and addressing gaps in services by leveraging Medicaid and improving partnerships with primary healthcare providers.
The MDHHS will subcontract with several agencies to service 410 families and individuals in the Lansing-area, Detroit and Berrien County throughout the grant period. The agencies include: Emergency Shelter Services, Berrien County; Mid-Michigan Recovery Services, Greater Lansing area; Neighborhood Service Organization, Detroit; Southwest Counseling Solutions, Detroit.
