Michigan recovery support organization turns to community after federal funding cuts
Recovery Advocates in Livingston (RAIL) in Southeast Michigan says its federal government funding has been cut. Now, the organization is turning to the community to help those in need.
Matthew Barton, a RAIL coordinator, tells CBS News Detroit that the funding cut was abrupt but not entirely unexpected.
"(It was) terrible news because it is definitely a large part of our funding structure," said Barton.
He said RAIL was receiving funding from American Rescue Plan dollars. However, the Trump Administration cut billions of dollars in March, which is a significant blow to the recovery house they run in Howell.
RAIL is asking for donations to keep its sober house open in the coming months. An anonymous donor has offered to match donations up to $20,000.
"The stop work order will definitely put the house in jeopardy," said Barton.
The house is still up and running, just on a month-to-month basis, with money from Community Mental Health Services of Livingston County.
"These women need stability; they need to be able to focus on their recovery and their sobriety," Barton said. "So to have in the back in their mind the fear that they could be homeless is just something we don't want to put them through."
The recovery house has six beds and it's staffed 24/7 for support. Barton estimates each bed costs about $500 a month.
"No matter what happens in Washington or in Lansing, these women's lives continue in Howell," he said. "They still have to get up every morning, put their foot forward, realizing they want to be sober and they want to better their lives, and they need the support."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
House lawmaker proposes budget cuts to Hope Florida
TALLAHASSEE — In an early, antagonizing move during the dedicated two-week budget conference that began Tuesday, the Republican House lawmaker investigating Hope Florida is proposing to cut millions from its state funding. Rep. Alex Andrade is striking funding for 20 Hope navigator positions, state workers who man a hotline and are supposed to direct people in need to nongovernmental programs for help. Andrade also suggested striking six proposed positions for navigators from the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs. The positions were requested in Gov. Ron DeSantis' proposed budget and initially funded in the House's health care offer from March. But that was before Andrade began investigating the charity supporting Hope Florida. The House is proposing to cut from its March health care budget offer $2.5 million. The Senate would have to agree. Hope Florida's helpline is currently funded by federal child abuse prevention grants through the American Rescue Plan, which is set to expire. DeSantis asked lawmakers for $2 million to continue staffing the call line. It's not clear how much Hope Florida, a program that spans numerous state agencies, costs the state. DeSantis has said it repurposes existing resources, including by converting at least 150 people to Hope navigators, but the state has also paid a vendor about $6 million to match needy Floridians with local churches and nonprofits under the program. Andrade said that while the Hope Florida navigators give him 'less heartburn' than the related charity, he was still concerned about the state program. The program and the charity are linked in their mission to get Floridians off of government aid. Since Hope Florida has come under scrutiny, the governor and first lady Casey DeSantis have been calling it a 'philosophy,' not a program. Andrade said their inability to define Hope Florida was troubling. And it also worried him that the state official who ran Hope Florida in the Department of Children and Families, Shevaun Harris, didn't know while testifying in his health budget committee earlier this year that there was someone responsible for the entire program. 'Shevaun Harris didn't realize she'd hired the Hope Florida executive director,' Andrade said over text message about why he was making the cuts, 'and the Governor's office can't decide if the program is a 'philosophy' or a 'movement.'' When asked whether the proposed cuts would affect negotiations between the two chambers, Sen. Jay Trumbull, a Panama City Republican and the Senate chairman of the health budget conference, said he didn't 'see any particular issue being a hang-up at this point.' 'It's more of a question of how far we can get before tomorrow at 2,' Trumbull told the Times/Herald in a text message. 'We are working to make as much progress as possible.' Without a resolution by Thursday afternoon, higher-ranking members of the House and Senate will decide what to do with the navigator positions. A Senate spokeswoman said that while Senate President Ben Albritton supports his chamber's offer on the Hope navigators — funding the 20 staffers currently employed and six additional positions in Veterans' Affairs — he wasn't going to weigh in at this time on how big a deal the House's decision is for negotiations. Albritton generally supports Hope Florida. 'The mission of Hope Florida makes sense to me. I do believe it will help people that need direction to be able to build a better path for their life,' Albritton, R-Wauchula, told CBS News Miami on April 13. Miami Herald religion reporter Lauren Costantino contributed to this report.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Construction underway for Youngstown parks and playgrounds projects
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) — If you've taken a drive past some of Youngstown's parks and playgrounds recently, you may have noticed a lot of activity. The old Bortz Field on the city's west side is one of 18 projects that are now underway or in the planning stages all around the city. There's work being done at Crandall Park on the north side as well as Homestead and Pemberton Parks on the south side. 'We're going to have the new batting cages over there, also infield turf and all brand new lighting,' said Youngstown Parks and Recreation Director Clement Franklin. The city is investing more than $10 million into its parks and playgrounds this spring and summer, with nearly $6 million of that coming from Youngstown's share of federal American Rescue Plan funds. 'There were some add-ons from each council. There were some specialized pieces that we added, and then we had some private investments as well,' said Youngstown Mayor Tito Brown. The improvements include new playground equipment as well as picnic tables and grills to replace what, in many cases, had been worn out or broken. There will also be new landscaping and sidewalks as well as lighting and security cameras. Brown said without the availability of the ARP funds, many of the upgrades would have taken years to install as funding became available. 'I'm excited to see what the new parks will look like, and the citizens in the neighborhood can enjoy them,' Brown said. Some city parks where nothing is taking place now could see improvements if there is money left over from other projects. Brown says residents will be able to start using the new facilities this summer, and most of the work should be completed this fall. While it was too cold to swim for many, the mayor on Monday was also taking his annual ceremonial first dive at the Northside Pool on Belmont Avenue. As a former lifeguard there many years ago, he had a message to remind residents about water safety this summer. 'Before we open the pool, I want to make sure I give them a spiel, make sure they know how to swim. Their parents should know how to swim. If not, let Parks and Rec help them learn water safety and swimming,' Brown said. The Northside Pool is also getting a new concession stand this summer that should be open by mid-June. It'll also be getting some improvements to the front entrance to the pool building and the bath house changing area. Weather permitting, the pool will be open through Sept. 1. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Yahoo
Alamogordo man believes he was bitten by shark off North Carolina coast
ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (KRQE) – A New Mexico man is back home and recovering after a wild encounter during a family vacation in North Carolina landed him in a hospital. Story continues below Entertainment: First-of-its-kind indoor pickleball facility coming to northeast Albuquerque Community: Albuquerque church leaning on faith after 2 members killed by their son Environment: What should New Mexicans do if they come across a raccoon? Sean Barton was visiting family in North Carolina when the fun day at Sunset Beach turned dangerous on Wednesday. 'I just got done riding a wave, standing up, I felt something bite down on calf-shin region, just bite down on my leg and then let go pretty quickly there after,' said Sean Barton. He said the adrenaline kicked in. 'Immediately I thought, 'I think I just got bit by a shark and I think I should probably get out of the water now,'' said Barton. He yelled for his nieces to get out of the water and ran onshore. Barton said his brother-in-law, a former Air Force EMT, patched him up on the beach chairs while his sister called 911. 'Overall, pretty scary. I'm glad it was me and not any of my nieces or any of the kids playing in the water. And definitely lucky that it wasn't a lot worse than it could've been,' said Barton. Barton ended up in the hospital with 11 stitches. Sunset Beach Fire Department also put out a release warning people about a potential shark in the water. 'You really never expect something like this to happen, especially when you look at the statistics. So, I don't know if it's necessarily a reason to fear the water, but you definitely have to respect that you're in the habitat of some of these creatures,' said Barton. He said this won't keep him from catching another wave. 'Making my way home now, back to the desert, maybe away from the ocean a little bit. I'll definitely be back in the water at some point in the near future,' said Barton. He has to have his stitches in for 10 more days. According the the Florida Natural History Museum, last year the U.S. had 28 confirmed unprovoked shark bite incidents which is 60% of bites worldwide. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
