Expanding trauma-informed, evidence-based treatment and recovery services for individuals with substance use disorder or CO-occurring disorders experiencing or at risk of homelessness - vegas stronger…

The Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded Vegas Stronger $1,488,284 on September 30, 2025, under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Projects of Regional and National Significance program (CFDA 93.243) to expand trauma-informed, evidence-based treatment and recovery services for individuals with substance use disorder or co-occurring disorders experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the Las Vegas Valley.

Vegas Stronger will deliver cognitive behavioral therapy, medication-assisted treatment, motivational interviewing, measurement-based care, critical time intervention, peer recovery support services, and trauma-informed care through licensed and credentialed staff including a behavioral health counselor, certified peer support specialist, and case manager. Services will be available in person and via telehealth. The organization will serve 70 individuals in year one and 80 individuals in years two and three, targeting adults experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk who face barriers related to substance use, mental health, unemployment, limited education, and restricted access to transportation and support services. The project pursues three goals: increase access to evidence-based treatment and recovery services, reduce opioid-related overdose deaths through harm reduction, and address social determinants of health through intensive case management and community partnerships.

The award period runs from September 30, 2025, through September 29, 2028, with place of performance in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Expanding trauma-informed, evidence-based treatment and recovery services for individuals with substance use disorder or CO-occurring disorders experiencing or at risk of homelessness - vegas stronger will expand access to integrated, trauma-informed treatment and recovery services for individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) and CO-occurring disorders (COD) who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the LAS vegas valley. The target population includes adults experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk who face complex challenges related to substance use, mental health, and barriers to care. Many clients served by vegas stronger lack stable housing, live below the poverty line, are uninsured, and encounter significant obstacles tied to social determinants of health (SDOH), including unemployment, limited education, and restricted access to transportation and support services. In 2024, the southern nevada point-in-time count identified 7,906 individuals experiencing homelessness across the region, highlighting the need for accessible, integrated treatment options. Vegas stronger will implement evidence-based interventions including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), medication-assisted treatment (mat), motivational interviewing (MI), measurement-based care (MBC), critical time intervention (CTI), peer recovery support services (PRSS), and trauma-informed care. All services will be delivered by licensed and credentialed staff, including a behavioral health counselor, certified peer support specialist, and case manager. Services will be available in person and via telehealth to reduce access to barriers. The project has three overarching goals: (1) increase access to evidence-based SUD/COD treatment and recovery services, (2) reduce opioid-related overdose deaths through harm reduction, and (3) address SDOH through intensive case management and community partnerships. The project will serve 70 individuals in year 1, 80 individuals in years 2 and 3, for a total of 230 unduplicated individuals. Objectives include completing 230 biopsychosocial assessments and suicide risk screenings, enrolling 170 individuals in intensive outpatient treatment, engaging 170 clients in peer-led recovery support, enrolling 75 individuals in tobacco cessation services, distributing 132 naloxone kits and fentanyl/xylazine test strips, and equipping 12 organizations to promote harm reduction.