Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Nonprofit Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Doors of Hope urges Rutherford County opioid board to help save program after grants run out
Summary
Doors of Hope told the Rutherford County Opioid Abatement Board that its reentry and recovery program has lost critical grants, is discontinuing several services and is seeking discretionary county support; the nonprofit cited a 3% recidivism rate among graduates and asked board members to visit the program and consider funding.
Lori Barrett Luke, speaking during the public‑comment period at the Rutherford County Opioid Abatement Board’s September meeting, said Doors of Hope provides a year‑long reentry and recovery program for women and that the organization’s grants have “dried up.” She asked the board to consider using discretionary funds or advocacy to help sustain the program.
“We will graduate 14 women from our program, the largest class ever,” Barrett Luke said, and added that Doors of Hope records a 3 percent recidivism rate among its graduates compared with higher recidivism numbers cited in broader state and national data. “If Doors of Hope is to survive this season, it will be because of the generosity of our community and of this board,” she told members.
Two supporters followed Barrett Luke’s comments. One identified herself as an unaffiliated community member who had worked in postsecondary education and workforce development and urged the board to consider the ripple effects of saving a life. Dr. Singer, who said she is affiliated with Saint Louis Clinic and community medicine programs, described seeing program outcomes firsthand and urged continued board support.
Board members did not take immediate formal action on the request during the meeting. Staff told the board that an application from Doors of Hope is expected by Sept. 15 and that the board will review funding requests during its October meeting on Oct. 1. Members asked staff to bring the application and any recommended allocation back to the board for consideration.
The transcript recorded a range of spellings and small transcription errors for the speaker and the nonprofit name; the article uses the organization name as Doors of Hope consistent with repeated references in the record.
