At Zepf Center, we strive to be the leader in hope and recovery for the communities we serve. Thanks to a recent $2.5 million award from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Zepf Center is able to continue this mission through the Homeless Outreach and Person-centered Engagement (HOPE) Project. The grant—dispersed to the program over the next five years—allows Zepf Center to continue meeting the needs of those in Northwest Ohio. 

The HOPE Project launched in 2018 as a partnership between Zepf Center and Neighborhood Properties Inc (NPI). The organizations worked together to combine their vast expertise in recovery, wellness and housing support to provide linkages to sustainable, permanent housing for homeless individuals.

Alongside providing the necessary services and support to obtain stable housing, the HOPE Project focuses on providing accessible, comprehensive, integrated and evidence-based treatment services, peer support and other recovery support services for program participants.

“This award is an incredible next step for the HOPE Project,” said Zepf Center CEO Deb Flores. “The opportunity to continue serving these community members is a reflection on the program’s accomplishments and our partnership with NPI over the past five years.”

Since the HOPE Project launched, over 350 individuals and been screened and over 200 have been enrolled. Thanks to the new award, the project will continue to assist qualified individuals and families with access to stable permanent housing, integrated treatment services, employment opportunities and community resources.

Congratulations to the HOPE Project grant team for working diligently on this program and successfully submitting the application for the new award. For more information about the HOPE Project, please contact Zepf Center Chief Recovery Officer Craig Gebers by emailing [email protected].