FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2020
Athens, GA

SAMHSA Homeless Services Expansion Grant
Advantage Awarded $2 Million in SAMHSA Grant Funds to Expand Homeless Service Programs

Advantage has been awarded funds to develop a 5-year multi-phase homeless services expansion program known as the Advantage Housing. Outreach. Partnership. Empowerment. (H.O.P.E.) Initiative. The program will incorporate evidence-based clinical treatment, case management, peer support services, zero-barrier mobile medical care, direct housing support, job training and employment assistance, direct childcare assistance, and other critical services to persons who are experiencing homelessness with substance use disorders, or co-occurring substance use and mental disorders living within Athens-Clarke and four surrounding counties: Jackson, Barrow, Oconee, and Walton.

Evan Mills, Director of Development & Housing Programs, identified several key partners who have committed to this initiative including: Northeast Georgia Regional Commission, Athens Free Clinic, People Living in Recovery, Inc., Acceptance Recovery Center, Palm House Recovery Center, Georgia Council on Substance Abuse, and Little Angels Daycare. This collaborative approach to direct service delivery will be centered within Advantage’s existing housing and homeless outreach programs. Program participants will receive a comprehensive assessment their barriers to housing stability as well as their individual strengths and support networks. Program funds will be directed toward addressing the individual’s most pressing housing and support service needs.

“We are extremely excited about the positive impact we intend to make as a result of this expanded outreach effort. We are looking forward to strengthening our partnerships with other community organizations in order to strengthen our local social services network of care for individuals and families experiencing homelessness,” noted Tammy Conlin, CEO of Advantage.

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About Advantage:
Advantage Behavioral Health Systems community service board is a Georgia safety net provider which provides behavioral health, addictive disease and intellectual developmental disability services to 10,000 individuals last year in 10 Northeast Georgia counties. Headquartered in Athens, Georgia, Advantage has 400 employees and an annual operating budget of $32 million. For more information, visit Advantage’s website at www.advantagebhs.org.

Contact: Tamara L. Conlin
Chief Executive Officer
Advantage Behavioral Health Systems
250 Bray Street, Athens, GA 30601
(706) 369-6789 office, (585) 208-5647 cell
[email protected]