NGO Funding Request


The recipient entity's full legal name:  Odyssey House Louisiana, Inc.

The recipient entity's physical address:
           1125 N. Tonti Street, New Orleans, LA 70119

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           1125 N. Tonti Street, New Orleans, LA 70119

Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  3677

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $4,650,000

What type of request is this?  Capital Outlay Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           Curt Bruss, Chair - 7812 Dodge Avenue, Jefferson LA 70121
Beverly Nichols, President - 7301 Burthe St., New Orleans, LA 70118
Dr. Robert Matheney, Vice President - 295 English Turn Drive, New Orleans, LA 70131
Vanessa Caliste-Swafford, Vice President -P.O. Box 791628, New Orleans, LA 70179
Darryl Harrison, Secretary - 531 Atlantic Ave., New Orleans, LA 70114
Jeffrey Goldfarb- 900 Camp Street, Suite 4C5, New Orleans, LA 70130
Robert Moffett, At-Large- 2037 Dauphine St. New Orleans, LA 70116
Dr. Lynn Bernal-Green -2265 New York Ave., New Orleans, LA 70122
Dr. Lucinda DeGrange, Ph.D. - 7513 Maple St., New Orleans, LA 70118
Dr. Derrick Freeman- 2818 Annunciation Street, New Orleans, LA 70115
Cara Hall - 5658 Woodlawn Place, New Orleans, LA 70124
Mary Antee McCullough - 900 Camp St., Suite 401, New Orleans, LA 70130
Linda Tresemer- 1475 N Roberston St, New Orleans, LA 70116

Edward C. Carlson, Odyssey House Louisiana Chief Executive Officer-92 Fontainebleau Drive, New Orleans, LA 70125
Kathy Laborde, Gulf Coast Housing Partnership President & CEO, 1626A Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70113


Provide a summary of the project or program:
           Odyssey House Louisiana (OHL)'s main facility is located at 1125 N. Tonti Street in the historic Treme neighborhood of New Orleans. Known as the Tonti Campus, the facility houses OHL's core adult residential treatment program and a Federally Qualified Health Center. The Tonti Campus is comprised of several historic buildings that make up one-half city block: two conjoined buildings, erected in 1866, and subsequently 1895, and the adjacent historic cottage-style buildings. Originally built as an orphanage, the facility was funded by Thomy Lafon, the first African American philanthropist, and was later utilized as a nursing home run by the Sisters of the Holy Family. Thanks to this storied history, the 1125 N. Tonti St. location has been of continuous social service use to the special needs populations of New Orleans for nearly 150 years.

As with any historic property, the facility requires constant care and attention to remain viable for occupancy. While OHL has been able to grandfather many living-quarter requirements for its programs due to the building's age, the N. Tonti St. location has reached a stage where extensive renovations are necessary to bring the facility up to code, ensure that we are meeting all licensing requirements, and improve the overall quality of treatment and safety for staff and clients. The former kitchen, located in the oldest part of the facility, was condemned due to its extreme deterioration and structural instability; the full renovation of this space was completed in the first phase of construction, utilizing the initial allocation of Capital Outlay funds in Priority 1. Furthermore, the N. Tonti St. facility is not ADA compliant, and does not meet the minimum standards for safety and physical space mandated by Department of Health and Hospitals regulations and by OHL's accreditation body, the national Council on Accreditation. This lack of appropriate facilities not only impacts the quality of OHL's services, but also hurts OHL's ability to continue to attract federal, local and private funding.

OHL has sought the professional expertise of Gulf Coast Housing Partnership (GCHP), a real estate company that specializes in building renovations through tax credits for nonprofit agencies similar to OHL. GCHP is experienced and skilled in accessing diversified financing vehicles including historic and low-income housing tax credits, as well as other tax credit incentives and various public, private and community funding tools. GCHP has estimated the repair work to the OHL facility to be $13.5 million in total. Utilizing historic state tax credits, grant funding and private investment, OHL will be able to provide $4.6 million for the renovations. The remaining $8.9 million is respectfully requested through the Capital Outlay award. $5.9 million has been approved, with $1.65 million in P5 which OHL requests to move to P1 for the 2022-23 Legislative Session. The remaining $3 million is a new P5 request.


What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Professional Services. . . $0
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $4,650,000
          Operating Services. . . . $0
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $0

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          Not Applicable

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          Since 1973, OHL has provided effective and comprehensive services to Louisiana's most vulnerable populations, including people suffering from substance abuse, homeless clients, formerly incarcerated individuals, and people living with HIV/AIDS. OHL has grown from a small, community-based rehab program into what is now the state's largest substance abuse treatment provider. In addition to our addiction recovery programs, OHL also operates a Community Health Center out of the N. Tonti St. facility, which is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that serves all members of the community, regardless of their ability to pay.

At present, OHL provides services to over 1500 clients per month across all its programs. This is more than most facilities treat in a year. Additionally, OHL is the treatment center of last resort, meaning we are where indigent and Medicaid patients go to help free themselves of the burden of substance abuse. Clients are referred from all over the state into OHL's residential substance abuse treatment programs, and all OHL treatment and case management programs are provided free of direct cost to the clients.

The need for OHL's services is abundantly clear. New Orleans is a city riddled with an aggressive drug trade, widespread opioid abuse, and a lack of treatment options for uninsured and low-income individuals. It is startling to note that, according to the CDC, there are now more opioid prescriptions in Louisiana than there are people. Additionally, in a city with notoriously high murder rates, deaths from drug overdoses now outpace murders in New Orleans. Along with the high incidence of drug use (especially I.V. drugs) HIV rates are off the charts. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased alcohol and substance use. The only way we are going to halt the spread of these deadly trends is if we, as a community, provide greater access to substance abuse treatment.

This is why these proposed renovations are critical to the safety and quality of care of the special needs populations in New Orleans and throughout the state, as OHL provides services to all Louisiana parishes. The OHL N. Tonti St. location has been an institution of social service for over 150 years, and OHL is committed to ensuring that the building continues to provide care to those who need it most. However, we know that we must upgrade our facilities to meet the level of care that they deserve. With capital outlay funding from the state and a mix of private and public funding, OHL will ensure that the property remains a long-term asset to the community and the populations it was created to serve.


What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          With state capital outlay funding, OHL will double its capacity to provide addiction and mental health treatment. The initial Phase A of the Tonti Campus renovation is completed; the master plan is complete and OHL is ready to proceed with the next phase immediately once the Capital Outlay funds are available. When the renovations are completed, the remodeled facility will offer long-term treatment and transitional housing for up to 100 individual clients, which is nearly twice as many as the facility can safely accommodate in its current state. In late 2019, OHL opened a new facility in the Broadmoor neighborhood of New Orleans. The project, a complete renovation of the historic Bohn Motor Co. building in on S. Broad St., allows OHL to house an additional 144 short-term residential beds and a satellite of OHL's FQHC. When the Tonti facility is completed, OHL will operate in both facilities, doubling its service footprint.

OHL's expansion will yield increased economic impact on the State of Louisiana. According to an independent study performed by Tripp Umbach, OHL is anticipated to generate $29.9 million in economic impact in FY21. This includes $16.0 million in impact from OHL's direct expenditures and $13.9 million in indirect/induced impact due to spending by OHL suppliers, employees, visitors, and clients in Louisiana. In 2021, program expansion at OHL will warrant additional job opportunities, as OHL is expected to yield an employment impact of 381 jobs. Of this total employment impact, 277 jobs will be directly employed through OHL, while an additional 104 jobs will stem from the spending of OHL, its industry partners and suppliers, employees, visitors, and clients. State and local government revenue attributable to the presence of OHL are projected to total over $1 million in FY21.

At its core, OHL is a pillar in the New Orleans region and State of Louisiana. OHL delivers a continuum of care and works with local, state, and national organizations to connect resources and outreach efforts to combat growing substance abuse. Recent reductions in the number of behavioral health programs around the state coupled with rising substance abuse rates warrant the need for OHL's services now more than ever. With continued support, OHL will further its role as an economic driver and indispensable resource in the state.


What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           24 months

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                 n/a
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                 n/a

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                 n/a

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  n/a

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               n/a

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
               n/a

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
                n/a

          What is the nature of the relationship?  n/a

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                 Louisiana Department of Health/ Office of Behavioral Health
628 N. 4th Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Louisiana Department of Health/ Medicaid
628 N. 4th Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Metropolitan Human Services District
3100 General De Gaulle Drive
New Orleans, LA 70114


(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               1. Adult Inpatient/Medically Assisted Detox ($2,306,570) This funding derives from the state Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) budget, is administered by Louisiana Clinical Services, and is managed by Metropolitan Human Services District (MHSD). The contract supports OHL's Adult Residential Treatment program, which provides up to 28 days of inpatient substance abuse treatment; and OHL's Medically Assisted Detox program, which provides 40 beds for people who are detoxifying from drugs and alcohol.

2. Intensive Outpatient with Housing ($360,000) This funding derives from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)'s Substance Abuse Treatment Block Grant (SABG), which is administered by OBH and is managed by MHSD. The funding supports long-term care and transitional housing at OHL for individuals in need of 2-6 months of intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment.

3. HIV Testing ($110,000) This funding derives from SABG dollars, is administered by OBH and is managed by MHSD. This funding supports HIV testing and pre- and post-test counseling at the Odyssey House Community Health Center.

4. Medically Assisted Treatment ($50,000) This funding derives from SAMHSA's Medication Assisted Treatment Prescription Drug and Opioid Addiction' grant dollars, is administered by OBH and managed by MHSD. The funding supports medication assisted treatment services at the Odyssey House Community Health Center.

Most OHL services are funded through Medicaid, as most OHL clients are Medicaid-eligible. OHL is reimbursed by state Medicaid for the following contracted services at the following per diem rates:

Detox
Treatment Only (HOO11) $290.00
Room & Board $43.50
Total $333.50
Adult Residential
Treatment Only (H2036) $212.47
Room & Board $31.62
Total $244.09
Intensive Outpatient
Treatment/15 min. (H0015) $12.00
Total $144.00
Supportive Housing and Sober Living
Room & Board Per Day (H2036) $31.62
Total $31.62



Contact Information
name:  Edward C. Carlson 
                                       address:  1125 N. Tonti Street, New Orleans, LA 70119
                                       phone:  (504)494-9628
                                       fax:  (504) 324-8614
                                       e-mail:  ecarlson@ohlinc.org
                                       relationship to entity:  Chief Executive Officer