A local nonprofit tasked with fighting substance abuse will see an additional $400,000 in grant money each year for the next five years.
Bacon Street Youth and Family Services will be able to expand its facilities and programs after receiving a five-year federal grant totaling $2 million, the nonprofit said in a news release.
The money, given by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, will come in annual $400,000 increments. Bacon Street is one of only two organizations in Virginia to receive the grant, the release said.
With the money, Hampton Roads-based Bacon Street plans to open new locations in Hampton/Newport News, lower York County and in the Gloucester area. The Gloucester local also will serve Mathews County, Bacon Street said.
The new locations will be part of the Journey Home Project, which will tackle the issue of homelessness in youth and their families through substance-use prevention, treatment and recovery, the release said.
The project aims to serve 1,250 people each year.
The project will include outreach and engagement strategies to increase youth and families reaching out for treatment; direct treatment such as screening, assessment and case management; connect clients with permanent housing and other necessary support services; assist clients with enrolling in benefits such as SNAP and TANF; and more.
“We are beyond thrilled about this amazing opportunity to dramatically expand services in the Hampton Roads area,” said Kim Dellinger, Bacon Street’s executive director. “This allows us to provide substance-use counseling, parent education, youth and family programming, treatment, and case management through a tiered approach.”
Bacon Street serves the Peninsula, including children who are aging out of the foster care system, the release said.
“With the continuing challenges related to the opioid epidemic, layered over the already insurmountable circumstances of housing, families who are struggling, are homeless or are precariously housed will be able to receive services at low or no cost to them,” Dellinger said.
