Project Title: Emergency Basic Needs and Workforce Development Programs
Blue Mountain Escape strives to provide the Mechanicsburg Community with safe, structured housing and recovery services for victims of substance use disorders that focus on women, pregnant and postpartum women, and women with children. Grant funds will be used to provide emergency basic needs and workforce development outreach services for the target population of women released from drug/alcohol programs and women actively practicing recovery. Blue Mountain Escape, Inc. (BME), provides recovery housing and recovery support services for individuals that suffer from Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) for individuals incarcerated who have pre release and post release requirements, and individuals continuing their recovery from Treatment Centers. This has been ongoing, and will continue throughout the project period for this under-served population.
Success to Come:
Strict rules at BME require women to learn essential budgeting, cooking, housekeeping, homemaking and survival skills, while providing basic shelter, encouragement and continued counseling to remain drug and alcohol free. Women are expected to support themselves financially and physically by acquiring a job within 2 weeks and paying rent weekly – likely the single most important requirement to initiating self sufficiency. Women are also expected to perform their own shopping, cooking and cleaning, while continuing counseling, participating in (4) NA or AA meetings a week and finding a (vetted) sponsor within 2 weeks. Ensuring women are integrated and engaged with their communities pre release is not only single-handedly one of the most important steps of a female’s release and recovery stages, but a crucial component of ensuring little or no chance of recidivism or relapse. BME is dedicated to not only aiding in the establishment of recovery and self-sufficiency of women in need, but also integrating these women with community support groups to assist with the deterrence of this cycle for others in the Mechanicsburg community.
The Mechanicsburg Area Community Foundation (MACF), a regional foundation of TFEC, conducts an annual competitive grantmaking program for nonprofit organizations serving the Mechanicsburg zip codes of 17050 and 17055. MACF seeks to fund programs and services that have the potential for the greatest impact on the quality of life and positive outcomes for individuals and families living in the Mechanicsburg area.
Grant Award:
$4,875
County Served:
Cumberland
Work Taking Place:
9.1.2023-8.31.202
