The Council on Recovery is pleased to announce that it has received a $375,000 grant from the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund to provide additional services to hurricane victims. The Fund was established by Mayor Sylvester Turner and Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, and is administered by the Greater Houston Community Foundation. The Council was one of only 27 non-profit organizations to share in the fourth round of grants totaling $42.3 million. The Council will use the funds to provide support for individuals and families by affected substance abuse and mental health disorders who are still struggling to recover more than six months after the hurricane hit the coast of Texas.
In the aftermath of the storm, The Council was among the mental health “First Responders”, deploying dozens of its counselors to the mass shelters at the George R. Brown Convention Center and the NRG Center. It was also instrumental in arranging Twelve Step meetings for residents in those facilities.
“Since the hurricane, we’ve continuously provided help to both flood victims and those whose lives were disrupted by the storm,” says Mel Taylor, President & CEO of The Council. “The trauma people experienced precipitated or compounded many addiction and mental health issues that we still deal with every day,” Taylor says, “This funding will allow us to remain the starting point for people who need help.”
The Council on Recovery will provide direct services across its broad spectrum of behavioral health and substance abuse programs to individuals affected by Hurricane Harvey. Services such as assessment, evaluation, intensive education, clinical treatment, case management, and recovery support will be expanded beyond current capacity.
“Our slogan is ‘You Know Someone Who Needs Us’,” Taylor says, “and Hurricane Harvey amplified that message across the Houston area. Thanks to the generous grant from the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, we’ll continue to meet the vital needs of our community with commitment and compassion.”