Colorado families struggling with substance use will soon have access to an innovative new program to provide holistic, full family care. With the passing of the Federal Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations package, Savio will receive $300,000 towards creating the first treatment program in the nation that allows the entire family to remain together while one or both parents seek addiction treatment.

U.S. Rep Ed Perlmutter spearheaded the submission of ten Community Project Funding requests totaling $7.6 million for Colorado’s 7th Congressional District. Thanks to his efforts, Jefferson and Adams Counties will benefit from infrastructure improvements, critical support for domestic violence victims, retrofitting a new health clinic for children, and funding to support STEM education and workforce development programs.

“Each of these projects have the ability to make a real difference in people’s lives and support critical investments in our communities,” said Perlmutter.

The Community Project Funding program is a return to allowing representatives and senators to directly request federal dollars for projects in their states and districts. Traditionally called earmarks, these projects were stopped due to concerns about wasteful spending and have often received negative publicity. With a more transparent process in place and stricter qualification guidelines, the program will use federal funding to support local community projects that need it the most.

The allocated funds will allow Savio to reimagine addiction treatment beyond addressing just the substance misuse of a caregiver. The organization’s new Family Residential Program serves entire families most likely to be unsuccessful in current models of care: those impacted by housing instability and addiction. The program will feature supervised housing for six families, each residing in their own three-bedroom townhome. Construction of the Family Residential Campus in Lakewood will begin in the summer of 2022.

“We are honored by Congressman Perlmutter’s advocacy for families in his district impacted by substance use. Federal support for this project demonstrates our government’s desire to end generational cycles of addiction. The project will be the first in the nation to provide a safe and stable living environment for an entire family while they receive the support they need to heal,” said Norma Aguilar-Dave, Executive Director of Savio.

Click here for additional information about the 7th Congressional District’s Community Projects.

For more information about the Family Residential program, please contact Robyn Meeks at rmeeks@saviohouse.org or 720-974-6204.