Giving Compass' Take:

• Chandra Crawford explores how policies aim to make an impact for homeless victims of the opioid epidemic. 

• What can funders learn from these policies? What is the next step for philanthropy? 

• Learn how one program is fighting the opioid epidemic with a housing-first approach. 

Opioid use disorders are particularly hard in homeless populations, where the prevalence of mental health conditions and substance misuse is high, and health care access is often limited. For that reason, the Alliance is providing an overview of the resources currently available.

In December 2016, President Obama signed the 21st Century Cures Act, which designated $1 billion in new funding to combat the opioid crisis. By April 2017, SAMHSA awarded the State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis Grant to all fifty states and U.S. territories. The program provides single state agencies with $485,000,000 annually over the next two years to:

  • Increase access to treatment
  • Reduce opioid overdose-related deaths through prevention
  • Support treatment and recovery activities for opioid use disorders (including prescription and illicit drugs
  • Supplement current activities taken by state agencies or territories

Read the full article by Chandra Crawford about the opioid crisis from the National Alliance to End Homelessness.