[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6260756,"mediaKeyId","3127327-05cc085f16cab498d963f60c99d294cf","parentId",3127327,"title","Agencies report food, transportation and senior-service strains on Nantucket; groups coordinate new efforts","audioSeconds",2706,"startMs",1090000,"endMs",3796000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3127327-05cc085f16cab498d963f60c99d294cf&start=1090&end=3796","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3127327-05cc085f16cab498d963f60c99d294cf/thumbnail_1090000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6260756/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Agencies-report-food-transportation-and-senior-service-strains-on-Nantucket-groups-coordinate-new-efforts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6260756-754584bfe27783d68b7d47a984c971ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1770765479&Signature=nQVmqhc5rK~XY4RxssInCwAcVsWhhEDFLfbEJzANC3tkI6o6OXSMq44s90-r5j7nSEb0VLPRn9QB~PNgl8ceI~APJ4XK6X5eJqC1Zj~9Y0xEea1VFJuPL8zLpJEZfy7IzzUdMTWleQKFdN5Y2BwPQVNycZQbFRLNhODr5TzbbJLfZjtoD8y9AVmI7eBv4w-A7-kNwIyfS9pPWtVYYqp8bFc96ekmIcLSJxH4WRbp7p2~Pv~q~fMm1tytQ-1Y~jgJpPVY9mhK72YRj9d62Zd5NjXJpWEBydOKPEMWmcPScHwrklQjBbPaVjhnSadxDlmwLmYujTB9OVl0~qTq9u5TIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town-County of Nantucket, MA","date","2025-04-26T00:04:54.25Z","article","Council members and community partners told the Council for Human Services on April 24 that food access, in-home supports and medical-transportation systems on Nantucket are under pressure.

Hospital social worker Sarah Wright said callers are reporting rising rents, eviction risk and increasing food insecurity. Wright noted the hospital social work office helps residents apply for housing aid and links people to Nantucket Food Fuel and Rental Assistance but cannot replicate a full mainland continuum of care. \"The hospital is a safe place. And if you need help, we are here to help,\" Wright said.

Representatives working with the island's food pantry said the Boston Food Bank has curtailed \"free pallets\" of supplemental donations that historically filled gaps in pantry stock. One speaker said that loss is an early sign of supply strain at the regional food bank and that the local pantry must find a new facility by next summer because its lease ends; she estimated roughly 350 family units could be affected if a replacement location is not secured. The group reported fundraising and relocation planning to maintain weekly food distributions.

On medical transportation, council members described a nascent transportation task force that met recently and includes the hospital, Nantucket Food Fuel and Rental Assistance, the Community Foundation, NERDA, Highline and other local partners. The task force aims to coordinate on-island and off-island nonemergency medical travel, reduce reliance on high-cost emergency flights and improve awareness of existing assistance such as senior medical travel funds. Bolchick and others said the task force will meet in May and resume regular meetings in the fall.

The council also highlighted a community partner event: a May 10 awareness screening at the Atheneum for a program called \"Horses for Mental Health in the Herd,\" which received a youth behavioral-health grant seed award. Bolchick described the provider's on-Cape operation and invited the council and public to attend; materials and a QR code for donations will be available at the event.

Council members noted broader funding pressures: federal Title III grant cycles were paused, potentially affecting Meals on Wheels allocations; and local nonprofits already report program cuts because of funding shifts. One council member said the Community Foundation recently increased its local grant capacity from $500,000 to $1 million, which may help fill gaps.

The meeting also reminded council members that three seats (Suzanne Keating, Tara Risteri and Amanda Rosette) are up for reappointment; the town mailed notices and the application deadline for committee membership is May 16, with select-board appointments to follow and new terms beginning July 1.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Council for Human Services - 4/24/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council members and partners described shrinking food distributions, threats to Meals on Wheels and mounting transportation challenges for medical travel, and highlighted a May 10 awareness event for a youth behavioral-health program.","taxTitle","Nantucket County, Massachusetts","taxId",61456,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6260761,"Nantucket opens $55,000 opioid remediation grant cycle; treatment and prevention grants due May 21",481,1615000,2096000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3127327-05cc085f16cab498d963f60c99d294cf&start=1615&end=2096","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3127327-05cc085f16cab498d963f60c99d294cf/thumbnail_1615000.jpg","/articles/6260761/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Nantucket-opens-55000-opioid-remediation-grant-cycle-treatment-and-prevention-grants-due-May-21","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6260761-0a3bbb597194c60cd114d07f6b4e344b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770765479&Signature=leGdxRPN7r4kloj7xMLrbsJlff0ooUi7WrmOoGL2b0pOTgImePiwnBAmdBYMxJGZlsAy~7tgdzNipcl-09IAq0fIvSsT4F0iHQIdABu2utB0~w7jwZUp9TeLsaM5tQlAbb5PacB5Agfb-6IuJ8~rmzF53aTwuuSFz7uZ3-pWUU7rfI4mfzcnj9ABYXDrSIg2Wt08qgad~C0TUJls5Y4gO9Ze4Cc7VpudnLg3NQbhw1mVOiG0h3aj5O85uTgMkKiiww2Di991qM5PsY6EvKcfYzIHzUTkUVusFSk4zBaOuH1kmSpqo~0gA7BJOBzf9KSzvj9W-7-ehslwQvSojcxZWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The town announced on April 24 a compressed grant cycle for $55,000 in opioid-remediation funds, split into a $35,000 treatment pool and a $20,000 prevention pool. The funds will be available for use from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, if contracts are executed on schedule.

Jericho Meeley, a town staff member involved in grant administration, said the $55,000 represents collected opioid-related funds that were combined to reach a usable grant amount. Meeley said applicants must be a nonprofit with 501(c)(3) status and that it is permissible for one organization to apply for both treatment and prevention funds. \"It must be received by a nonprofit, a 5 0 1 c 3,\" Meeley said.

Treatment grants are intended primarily for opioid-related treatment services (the CRC and reviewers will favor opioid-specific programming, Meeley said), while prevention grants may fund outreach, education, research or early-intervention activities. The application must be submitted by May 21; the town plans deliberations between May 21 and June 30, with contract start dates of July 1, 2025. Meeley estimated the town will receive about five to seven eligible applications across both pools.

Council members and staff acknowledged the timeline is compressed and said they will perform statutory public-notice steps and outreach. The application was advertised as required by statute (three consecutive weeks in the designated public forum) and has been emailed to recent applicants whose contact information is current. Meeley and others encouraged prospective applicants to call staff with questions before submitting.

No formal votes were required to open the grant cycle; staff said they will draft contracts and, if necessary, delay invoicing start dates slightly if contract execution runs late. The town indicated the first invoice period would likely fall in the first quarter of the next fiscal year regardless of a short contract delay, reducing the practical effect of a delayed start.

Application details: the treatment pool ($35,000) is intended for direct treatment services emphasizing opioid misuse; the prevention pool ($20,000) is for education, outreach, research and nonclinical prevention strategies. Eligible organizations: 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Deadline: May 21, 2025. Award period: 07/01/2025'06/30/2026.

Questions about eligibility and fit can be directed to town staff listed in the online grant posting; staff said they will triage eligibility questions and refer complex determinations to the Contract Review Committee.","Town staff announced a rapid grant cycle for $55,000 in opioid-remediation funds, split $35,000 for treatment and $20,000 for prevention, with applications due May 21 and contracts to run July 1, 2025'June 30, 2026.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6260766,"Nantucket panel seeks stable human-services funding as needs assessment, contract changes advance",2906,152000,3058000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3127327-05cc085f16cab498d963f60c99d294cf&start=152&end=3058","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3127327-05cc085f16cab498d963f60c99d294cf/thumbnail_152000.jpg","/articles/6260766/Nantucket-County/Massachusetts/Nantucket-panel-seeks-stable-human-services-funding-as-needs-assessment-contract-changes-advance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6260766-dad7e88b8bb3deac26707a0648311d12/orig.mp4?Expires=1770765479&Signature=g76uNrbwx28LSyjYJUVwHwwcMNFbSTZZ4Ltn~4AH81bIIloCgwua1-d5uSbTnC8Rg3OHZkanonGrEFvVfKMKDslVXSIvdcbWHJFbwVxfBPNB580kK2pGtU0S4Q-aNGL~1D3YgHWt4prMbzhvFb7TjhmGr4KTD~KH9XV2ER9h7ORfZKer6gKUEDJQfrMVmO7I5-nAf5oc4N8vTZPMGHyZ4NuruLnT0vZK8QgFwVKEEwNLVkYLx6jv2CgNVAJU9M-0Kobz9KrzUThA27HPyyQOuPZEuxGDilPQ5tTuhyijuxS6s8eRMdc6gNh10G4Qb2awqIaCgJvQ1jHb0P9Q2XKkcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Council for Human Services on April 24 pressed Town officials to formalize and possibly increase the town's annual human-services funding after years of a flat allocation and recent cuts to a substance-misuse funding stream. Council for Human Services Chair Veronica Bolchick said the council will ask the town's Contract Review Committee and finance officials to seek a clearer, inflation-adjusted funding formula.

Why this matters: The town has funded human-services grants at about $650,000 for at least five years. Council members said inflation (they cited roughly 12%–18% since the allocation stabilized) and rising local costs for housing and food have eroded providers' capacity. Funding stability affects social services from youth programs to senior meals and housing support.

At the meeting, Bolchick said the council will ask that grant contracts require recipients to acknowledge town support visually and that the council will host a recipients' reception after the town meeting if the warrant passes. \"We had much more ask than the money,\" Bolchick said, urging a formal request process for an increase. She also said the council will ask grantees to participate in the town's published human-services calendar (ACT Cares) and to accept technical help to post events.

Council members described a multistep path to secure a larger, more predictable allocation. The next steps begin with a formal request to the Contract Review Committee (CRC) and then work through town channels; that request must be routed through the same municipal approval process used for other budget changes. Jericho Meeley, a town staff member supporting grant administration, said the formal request must be started immediately after the annual town meeting and will follow CRC review.

The council also approved work on a community needs assessment to inform priority setting. Bolchick described the assessment as a social-determinants-of-health survey that will gather representative baseline data to guide future allocations and reduce reliance on ad hoc decisions. She said the assessment will rely on broad outreach and incentives to produce representative results.

The council plans administrative changes to the grant cycle and the CRC. Members said the CRC has taken on more grant cycles and more complex administration in recent years and that quorum and scheduling have become barriers during the busy spring and summer months. Bolchick and other members said they are exploring a restructured review body with subcommittees to spread the workload and protect continuity.

The council also demonstrated interest in an online resource tool the town is implementing. Staff described an instance of Network of Care (locally ACCares/ACT Cares) that now offers a chatbot/natural-language search to help residents find services by describing needs rather than program names. Bolchick said she will work to embed that tool across town web pages.

Votes at a glance:
- Acceptance of the meeting agenda: roll-call approval (Sarah Wright: yes; Suzanne Keating: yes; Sue Mintonan: yes; Amanda Rosette: yes; Veronica Bolchick: yes). Outcome: approved.
- Approval of minutes from the March 27 meeting: moved by Suzanne Keating; seconded by Sarah Wright. Roll-call approval (Sarah Wright: yes; Suzanne Keating: yes; Sue Mintonan: yes; Amanda Rosette: yes; Veronica Bolchick: yes). Outcome: approved.

What council members asked staff to do: prepare a formal funding request through the CRC, pursue a public-facing needs assessment, and integrate grantees into the town's human-services calendar. Members emphasized they want clear precommitment of total grant dollars before the next grant cycle so applicants can propose against a known pool.

The council did not set a dollar increase; members said the request will reflect current provider needs, and that inflation and rising housing and food costs are driving the ask. Bolchick said, \"If you don't ask, we're not gonna get it.\"","The Council for Human Services urged town officials to formalize and increase human-services and substance-misuse funding after years of flat allocations, and launched a needs assessment and administrative changes to improve grant delivery and community resource access.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Agencies report food, transportation and senior-service strains on Nantucket; groups coordinate new efforts

Nantucket opens $55,000 opioid remediation grant cycle; treatment and prevention grants due May 21

Nantucket panel seeks stable human-services funding as needs assessment, contract changes advance