Tapestry Health, Craig’s Doors Receive Funding to Expand Harm-reduction Services
NORTHAMPTON — Tapestry Health and Craig’s Doors announced they have been awarded a $150,000 grant from the Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership, funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services and powered by the RIZE Massachusetts Foundation.
This funding, coupled with $150,000 in matching funds ($50,000 each) from the municipalities of Amherst, Northampton, and Easthampton, will enable both organizations to expand and enhance their community-led harm-reduction initiatives, addressing the critical needs of individuals and communities affected by substance use and homelessness across Hampshire County. The municipal funding is made possible through Opioid Settlement Abatement Funds.
Tapestry Health’s harm-reduction program will partner with Craig’s Doors homeless services to provide coordinated outreach across the following Hampshire County towns: Amherst, Chester, Chesterfield, Cummington, Easthampton, Granby, Hadley, Hatfield, Huntington, Middlefield, Northampton, Plainfield, Southampton, and Worthington.
This initiative is part of the Hampshire Public Health Shared Services Collaborative, a regional partnership led by the Northampton Department of Health and Human Services that strengthens and coordinates public-health efforts across participating municipalities. This collaboration will focus on connecting with more homeless people and people with lived and living experience of substance use, especially in rural areas, to increase their access to harm-reduction resources, healthcare, housing, and transportation services. This will enable Tapestry Health and Craig’s Doors to increase access to life-saving resources and support services across all 14 Hampshire County towns.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Mosaic Opioid Recovery Partnership and the municipalities of Northampton, Amherst, and Easthampton for their generous support,” said Mavis Nimoh, CEO of Tapestry. “This combined $300,000 funding will allow us to significantly expand our community-led harm-reduction initiatives and reach more individuals in need, particularly those in rural areas who often face barriers to accessing essential services. By partnering with Craig’s Doors, we are creating a stronger, more comprehensive network of care across Hampshire County.”
The project design is based on the 2024 Hampshire HOPE countywide survey, input from community members with lived and living experience, and direct requests from participating municipalities. The project aims to address identified needs, including housing access, harm-reduction services, and peer support.
“This funding is crucial in our ongoing mission to provide safe and supportive environments for individuals facing substance-use challenges and houselessness,” said Tim McCarthy, executive director of Craig’s Doors. “Working alongside Tapestry Health, with the support of these three municipalities and the ability to reach much of Hampshire County through the HPHSSC, we can amplify our impact and create lasting, positive change in our community by directly reaching those who are the hardest to reach.”