09.25.23

Durbin Joins HHS, SAMHSA Officials to Announce Federal Funding and Recognition for Haymarket Center

CHICAGO – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited Haymarket Center with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Region 5 Director Michael Cabonargi and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Region 5 Administrator Jeffrey Coady to announce Haymarket’s federal approval for designation as an “FQHC Look-Alike” for its treatment of individuals experiencing homelessness. With this recognition, Haymarket will provide a comprehensive set of primary care services to this population—bolstering its leading work in the community to address behavioral health challenges, and will receive enhanced federal resources to support this mission.

Durbin, Cabonargi, and Coady also announced Haymarket received two new federal grants from SAMHSA. One award, worth $800,000 per year for five years, will enable Haymarket to serve more than 230 adults with mental health and substance use disorders with intensive clinical and employment services. Another award, worth $500,000 per year for five years, will enable Haymarket to serve more than 675 adults with co-occurring substance use and HIV/hepatitis infections.

“The opioid epidemic continues to sweep through our communities, touching too many lives with the cruel grip of addiction,” said Durbin. “At the same time, the mental health crisis, especially among our youth, is reaching unprecedented levels with one in three teen girls grappling with thoughts of suicide. Fortunately, we are blessed with dedicated partners like Haymarket Center in our mission to confront these multifaceted issues. Between their new ‘FQHC Look-Alike’ status and the recently awarded federal funding, Haymarket can continue to serve as a beacon of hope, ensuring our most vulnerable have access to the critical services they provide.”

“Wellness in recovery encompasses a person’s whole life, not just their substance use or mental health issue,” said Cabonargi. “When people are equipped with evidence-based treatment and recovery supports, they can regain their lives and contribute to their families and communities,” said Cabonargi. “This SAMHSA grant funding and the FQHC Look-Alike Status support the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing efforts to advance President Biden’s Unity Agenda to tackle the country’s mental health crisis and beat the opioid epidemic.”

“Senator Durbin is a champion for expanding access to care and comprehensive services for people with substance use disorders – not just during National Recovery Month, but all year long,” said Dr. Dan Lustig, President & CEO of Haymarket Center. “With this new grant funding and FQHC-LAL designation, Haymarket Center will be able to offer evidence-based treatment, behavioral health, primary care and address the workforce challenges our patients face for a true wrap-around health equity model of care.”

Durbin previously secured $1,375,000 for Haymarket through Congressionally-directed spending from the Fiscal Year 2022 and Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus appropriations bills. Durbin also passed a provision in the 2018 SUPPORT Act that partially lifted a Medicaid limitation, known as the IMD Exclusion, that had restricted coverage for residential services in facilities with more than 16 beds.

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