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.
10.15.18
Earlier this month, Congress and the Administration passed The Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients. This legislation builds upon past grants and provisions to address opioid and substance use disorders through expansions of medication-assisted treatment, recognition of peer supports as crucial to recovery, and acknowledgement of housing as part of the broader solution.
The President is expected to sign the bill into law next week, but much work remains. According to the National Health Care for the Homeless Council's Senior Director of Policy, Barbara DiPietro, this legislation is a "patch work" of incremental changes that is a step in the right direction, but does not make the substantive changes needed to fully address the addiction crisis. Further measures need to be taken, such as the funding in the CARE Act, discussed by Congressman Elijah Cummings and Senator Elizabeth Warren during their visit to our Downtown clinic in July.
For now, members of the National Health Care fore the Homeless Council identified five priority areas from this legislation related to our work and mission:
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!