CINCINNATI -- A grant coming from California will help hundreds of people in the Tri-State get the recovery they need.
The Center for Addiction Treatment on Ezzard Charles Drive just received $500,000 to help people who walk through its doors.
It's the largest operating grant the center, which is Cincinnati's longest-serving addiction treatment center, has ever received. It came from the S.L. Gimbel Foundation in Orange County, California.
"I absolutely believe it is a godsend because it's going to help many people," said Marie Perry, who's receiving care at the center. "It's helped me and it's helped people I know."
Perry has been receiving care at the center for about a month. She said she's already noticed a difference.
"I've actually heard of this place about 15-20 years ago, but I didn't think it was for me," she said. "When I came, I realized that it had helped me so much."
Now more people like Perry will be able to receive the treatment they need. The money will help hire more staff members and cover the one-year cost of primary care services for 1,200 patients and mental health counseling for 520.
"We wanted to make sure we could treat the whole person, not just silos of what people need, so that the opportunity to be clean, sober, health was magnified by having those wraparound services available," Sandi Kuehn, the center's CEO, said.
The grant is already in effect. The center is looking for people to fill the staff openings now.
