FITCHBURG — The city’s Board of Health has been awarded a state grant of $300,000 to continue to provide programming for opioid misuse and addiction prevention.
“The (Overdose to Action or OD2A) grant has a specific focus on homeless individuals or those who are housing insecure, who are also are active users or otherwise at risk for overdose. This initiative will be filling a gap that currently exists in our community,” Director of Public Health Stephen D. Curry said.
The grant came from the state’s Department of Public Health and Bureau of Substance Abuse Services through an initiative supported by the federal Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has curtailed the city’s implementation of some the OD2A strategies, working together with several area providers who currently interact with the target population provides connection to and utilization of intervention, treatment and recovery services, according to a press release announcing the grant.
The OD2A grant is being used for several initiatives, including the AIDS Project Worcester, which has been an ongoing partner with Fitchburg’s Massachusetts Opioid Abuse Prevention Collaborative program, according to the release.
While the city’s MOAPC continues to coordinate ongoing naloxone training and collaborating in educational initiatives. the AIDS Project Worcester is at the forefront in providing street outreach in the area of harm reduction and other services to reduce the risk of overdose for those who are homeless or housing insecure, according to the release.
The grant has been used to purchase supplies to be used by APW outreach as they build relationships during street outreach.
Weekly meals provided by the North Central Mass. Faith-Based Community Coalition at the YMCA have recently been subsidized using the grant funds because since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for meals has expanded.
“We are serving 80 individuals four meals a week. In March we were serving 35 two meals a week. The change is significant,” Emily MacRae, president of the Coalition, said.
The grant is also being used by the Fitchburg Housing Authority to provide a variety of containers to safely dispose of sharps at several of its housing complexes.
Sue Christensen, of the city’s Substance Abuse Prevention division, will oversee the OD2A initiative.
“This grant will help us focus specifically on a population that often is overlooked and difficult to reach. Having basic needs met, such as food and necessities, puts individuals in a better position to accept assistance by means of intervention and connection to treatment and recovery services,” Christensen said, adding also states that although this project serves a specific population.
“We are very cognizant of the distinction that not all homeless/housing insecure individuals are active users and/or at risk for overdose any more than not all individuals who are active users/at risk of overdose are homeless or housing insecure,” Christensen said
Our Father’s House has always provided critical services to the homeless population and during this health crisis. It established a satellite COVID-9 location, staffed 24/7 with medical personnel on site and the Health Department continues to provide the shelter substance misuse and overdose prevention resources, according to the release.
Mayor Stephen DiNatale was happy about the grant announcement.
“We are pleased to be the recipient of the OD2A grant and are confident that it will only enhance the ongoing efforts of the City of Fitchburg to address the needs of our most vulnerable residents,” DiNatale said.
“While the city’s efforts in this area are done quietly and without fanfare, the Mayor’s Office, Health Department and other City Departments work continually, both internally and with our community partners, to address the needs of the homeless and housing insecure population. For these high risk individuals who are also at risk for overdose, we now have another set of strategies,” DiNatale said.
