Substance addiction was going to kill him, most likely. That’s what the homeless man told Kara Holcombe, a United Way AmeriCorps member serving at the Lawrence Community Shelter.

Mentally ill and chronically homeless, he’d been addicted for years and seemed resigned to this grim fate. But that changed when Holcombe told him he could create a better future for himself by taking part in the new substance abuse treatment program offered to LCS guests through a new partnership between United Way of Douglas County, DCCCA, Lawrence Community Shelter, the Willow Domestic Violence Center and Health Care Access Clinic.

That glimmer of hope was all he needed. The LCS guest was among the first people to begin one-on-one and group substance abuse counseling offered by DCCCA at LCS, the Willow and Health Care Access. The collaboration, funded under the United Way’s health community goal, seeks to make substance abuse treatment more accessible to those who are uninsured or cannot pay for private treatment programs so that they can overcome their addictions and live healthier, more self-sufficient lives. The program launched in January and is already seeing great results.

“Area agencies serving low-income, uninsured patients have had a difficult time connecting clients who need substance abuse support with the services available in our community,” said Erika Dvorske, president/CEO of United Way of Douglas County. “So United Way brought all the partners together within our Health Goal to see how we could collaborate to better connect people struggling with addiction to the life-changing services they need.”

“This partnership is focused on helping the most disenfranchised people,” shared Sandra Dixon, director of behavioral health services for DCCCA. “The goal is to reach people who have no other resources — no Medicaid, no insurance, no money to pay for treatment.”

For Brian Blevins, executive director of the Lawrence Community Shelter, this collaboration has already been a game changer. Blevins reported that 10 to 15 percent of shelter guests have a chronic substance disorder. In the first few weeks of the partnership, nine guests began rehab through DCCCA – nearly 75 percent of those identified by LCS as in need of recovery services.

“Five of these people involved in recovery are also now involved in our work program, which they could not have done without this program,” said Blevins. “It’s phenomenal.”

Before the partnership, LCS guests had to wait six to eight weeks for inpatient treatment. Most were unable or unwilling to wait, or were distrustful of accessing off-site treatment programs. The difference now is that DCCCA is working on site at the shelter to quickly diagnose guests who have substance abuse issues and get them into the appropriate rehab program.

Joan Schultz, executive director of the Willow, is also optimistic about the impact the program will have on survivors of domestic violence who battle an addiction to drugs or alcohol. DCCCA has had a long standing reciprocal relationship with the Willow, but this new collaboration allows DCCCA substance abuse professionals to come to the shelter more often and work more closely with the Willow staff to pinpoint the role of addiction plays in the lives of survivors and chart a plan toward recovery.

“Many survivors of domestic violence get involved with alcohol and drug abuse to escape the pain of domestic violence,” said Schultz. “Is the alcohol or drugs getting in the way of their ability to be strong and remove themselves from that situation? We have to assess that.”

“To have a partner like DCCCA at the table is a value-add for the community because it makes it possible to deliver critical services as efficiently and effectively as possible,” said Dvorske. “As a result of this partnership, our community did not have to incur the cost of adding new staff members at these agencies to address the growing problem of substance abuse and the role it plays in keeping people from being self sufficient. Instead, we were able to utilize the expertise of an existing community partner to help us treat those who are uninsured or low-income.”