(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced with U.S. Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) that $500,000 in federal grant funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is heading to the Lakes Region Mental Health Center (LRMC) to assist psychological well being and substance use dysfunction (SUD) remedy outreach to people experiencing homelessness.

Specifically, these funds will assist the hiring of a devoted employees member at LRMC to carry out outreach to homeless people dwelling with psychological well being challenges and SUDs and assist facilitate remedy choices.

“As the substance use disorder crisis continues to impact communities across New Hampshire, I’m glad to see these funds headed to Lakes Region Mental Health Center to support outreach services,” stated Senator Shaheen. “Investing in treatment and outreach is essential to eradicating these illicit substances and addressing the mental health crisis. I’ll continue working to ensure Granite State communities have the resources they need to combat this epidemic.”

“Everywhere I go in New Hampshire, people talk to me about devastating impacts of the opioid crisis and the need to do more to address the mental health crisis,” stated Senator Hassan. “I am glad to announce this federal grant that will help people in the Lakes Region who are struggling with mental health challenges or opioid misuse. I will continue working to address these pressing issues with the seriousness that they deserve.”

“Every life lost to substance use disorder is a tragedy – we must do more to ensure our communities can access the treatment they need to heal and thrive,” stated Congresswoman Kuster, founder and co-chair of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force. “I’m proud to help announce these resources heading to the Lakes Regional Mental Health Center to support our neighbors and expand access to mental health care. I will continue working to address the substance use disorder and mental health crisis and eliminate the stigma around treatment.”

“We must continue to invest in a multi-pronged approach to combat the addiction crisis, including increasing access to mental health care,” stated Congressman Pappas. “This funding will support efforts in New Hampshire to address the mental health crisis, prevent substance misuse, and help those suffering from addiction. I will keep fighting to deliver resources to organizations in New Hampshire working to support those in need and combat this epidemic.”

“Lakes Region Mental Health Center is thrilled to receive this grant from SAMHSA to benefit homeless individuals and families in the Lakes Region Service area.  The project will provide those who are experiencing homelessness with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders increased access to services, in a comprehensive system of supports in partnership with our community service partner organizations.  Working together during the five-year grant period, we will provide critical linkages improving recovery outcomes and resulting in healthier communities,” stated Maggie Pritchard, LRMHC CEO.

“The number of people in our area experiencing homelessness has risen dramatically from pre-pandemic levels. In partnership with area service providers and treatment organizations, this SAMHSA funding will enable Lakes Region Mental Health Care to increase access and availability of services and with a high focus on outreach and engagement, in an effort to avoid people falling through the cracks. Services we will be able to offer through this funding will include integrated behavioral health care, and substance use disorder recovery support services. Financial support for recovery housing, childcare, and transportation will help to reduce barriers that may have been preventing this population from receiving the care that they need for recovery,” stated Beth Vachon, LRMHC Director of Development & Public Relations.

Senator Shaheen and Senator Hassan have led efforts within the Senate to handle the substance use dysfunction epidemic. Senator Shaheen’s bipartisan FENTANYL Results Act, signed into legislation as a part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), will increase world cooperation within the struggle towards artificial drug trafficking. Shaheen and Senator Marshall lead the Cooper Davis Act, which is a bipartisan invoice to carry social media corporations accountable for reporting to legislation enforcement all illicit fentanyl exercise occurring on their platforms. In the FY 2023 government funding legislation, Shaheen secured $608 million in federal grants to assist communities and first responders throughout the nation to answer the substance misuse disaster. Shaheen additionally included within the FY 2023 authorities funding invoice language to authorize elevated funding for the State Opioid Response grant program, which provides native communities sources to higher fight the opioid and substance use dysfunction epidemic. Last 12 months, Shaheen and Hassan led efforts to forestall a steep cliff in SOR funding, securing a dedication to guard New Hampshire funding from Health and Human Services Secretary Becerra. Since 2018, Senators Shaheen and Hassan have secured roughly $140 million from these grants for New Hampshire to fight the opioid epidemic within the state. As a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), Shaheen recently questioned Biden administration officers on what might be completed to carry social media platforms accountable for enabling fentanyl gross sales that concentrate on youth and gas this disaster.

Senator Hassan has additionally labored on extra bipartisan efforts to fight the opioid epidemic. Senator Hassan efficiently handed into legislation her bipartisan Mainstreaming Addiction Treatment (MAT) Act, to extend the variety of medical professionals approved to prescribe the gold commonplace of opioid remedy. Recently, Senator Hassan and a bipartisan group of Senators called on the DEA to take additional motion to take away limitations to this remedy. Earlier this 12 months, Senator Hassan visited Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras as a part of a bipartisan Congressional Delegation journey the place she spoke with overseas officers about the necessity to crack down on fentanyl and different drug trafficking. Senator Hassan additionally labored together with her colleagues to cross into legislation the bipartisan INTERDICT Act, which has offered essential instruments to Customs and Border Protection to assist detect and intercept fentanyl and different unlawful artificial opioids.

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