HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Huntington City Council signed off on the implementation of a new initiative aimed at helping those battling addiction, homelessness, and more.
The HARBOR initiative (Housing, Access, Recovery, Behavioral health, Outreach, and Re-engagement) was born out of federal money obtained through announcements by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. The city will receive $3 million this year, with additional $3 million installments over the next three years.
“I think that this has the potential to be a gamechanger,” Huntington City Councilwoman Sarah Walling said.
Earlier this month, Kennedy announced that Huntington was becoming one of eight communities nationwide to pioneer the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s new Safety Through Recovery, Engagement, and Evidence-based Treatment and Support (STREETS) program.
Huntington Mayor Patrick Farrell said it’s a multi-agency effort to put those federal funds to use. He said that the Marshall Health Network, the Division of Addiction Sciences, Valley Health, Harmony House, the West Virginia Health Information Network, and the REACH initiative are all collaborating to weave Huntington’s significant resources together to help those in need.
“The purpose of this new initiative is to reduce unsheltered homelessness and improve behavioral health stability among adults with serious mental illness, substance use disorder, and co-occurring disorders,” Farrell explained. “This will be accomplished by aligning and expanding partnerships into a fully integrated coordination system.”
Farrell said this initiative will fill a big need.
“HARBOR will assist in capturing individuals that fall through the cracks,” Farrell said, “especially people who cycle between the justice system, the healthcare system, and the streets.”
Walling added that it’s great to see such collaboration.
“Harmony House is grateful to be included and to be a part of the work group and the solution,” Walling said. “This is big news.”
Huntington City Council Chairman Mike Shockley praised the announcement and the unanimous passage by council to approve the STREETS grant.
“With the city of Huntington, the collaboration that we’re seeing, addressing this issue is like it’s not been before,” Shockley said. “We’ve had a lot of agencies, a lot of things working, nonprofits, but where we’re going to have some money and start tying these things in, and a grant that’s going to be the glue to put it all together, is amazing.”