Client storytelling is a staple of the nonprofit business model, ever present in advocacy, clinic tours, fundraising—and news articles like the one you are reading right now.
04.12.17
Well, safe consumption centers didn’t get traction during this legislative session, but the hard work we as an agency did to advocate for them, along with other opioid-related legislation, paid off. The General Assembly overwhelmingly passed the HOPE Act, an omnibus bill bundling various measures to address our state’s opioid use crisis.
By working with coalition members during lobby day and testifying with lawmakers in Annapolis, Health Care for the Homeless community played an important role in helping pass the HOPE Act. Very big thanks to all staff for your awesome advocacy that helped make this bill a success!
With a 216% increase in opioid-related overdose deaths between 2010 and 2015 in Maryland, opioid use was front and center this legislative session. To unpack what this new bill means for our state and our clients, here are a few highlights:
Starting with staff lawmaker visits on the safe consumption bill on Lobby Day, our Health Care for the Homeless advocacy on opioid-related issues this session extended through to the end, with testimony by Chief Health Officer Nilesh Kalyanaraman and Addictions Counselor Terry Clark, and lawmaker and workgroup meetings by Dr. K and Director of Government Relations Eric Colchamiro. Perhaps the most significant Health Care for the Homeless contribution to the HOPE Act: getting chronic pain inserted into the above-noted guidelines for prescribing opioid overdose reversal drugs.
Again, thank you, all. And bravo.
Client storytelling is a staple of the nonprofit business model, ever present in advocacy, clinic tours, fundraising—and news articles like the one you are reading right now.
The Trans Rights Advocacy Coalition (TRAC) has been the driving force in championing trans rights policy changes in Maryland. Due to stigma and structural discrimination, transgender people—particularly transgender people of color—experience high rates of homelessness. Following the implementation of the Trans Health Equity Act in January, we talked with TRAC leadership about their work and community.
Since starting in January 2022, REI Health Specialist Arie Hayre-Somuah, LMSW, MPH has worked with our clinical teams to identify health disparities and move us closer to health equity. This year, she is turning her focus to the topic of health literacy.
We are delighted to announce the promotion of Hanna Mast from Senior Communications Manager to Director of Communications. Get to know more about her work in the Q&A below!