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?  $7,000,000

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:
           Vanessa Caliste-Swafford, Chair -P.O. Box 791628, New Orleans, LA 70179
Dr. Robert Matheney, President - 295 English Turn Drive, New Orleans, LA 70131
Darryl Harrison, 1st Vice President- 531 Atlantic Ave., New Orleans, LA 70114
Cara Hall, 2nd Vice President- 5658 Woodlawn Place, New Orleans, LA 70124
Dr. Lucinda DeGrange, Ph.D., Secretary - 7513 Maple St., New Orleans, LA 70118
Linda Tresemer, Treasurer- 1475 N Roberston St, New Orleans, LA 70116
Robert Moffett, At-Large- 2037 Dauphine St. New Orleans, LA 70116
Samuel Brantley, 2207 Milan Street, Unit C, New Orleans, LA 70115
Jarrod Broussard, PO Box 750668, New Orleans, LA 70175
Dr. Derrick Freeman- 2818 Annunciation Street, New Orleans, LA 70115
Paul Harris- 1947 Hope Street, New Orleans, LA 70119
Rebecca Miller- 801 Pontalba, New Orleans, LA 70124
Madison O'Malley- 3803 Camp Street, New Orleans, LA 70115
Dr. Ken Roy- 4824 Cleary Ave, Metairie, LA 70002
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:
           OHL is requesting that $7 million designated for this project in Priority 5 be moved to Priority 1 to ensure that this new treatment program can begin serving clients as soon as possible. This key project will allow for strengthening of our critical behavioral health infrastructure and expansion of services for the citizens of Louisiana during a time of intense need.

OHL has identified and plans to purchase a historic building in the Treme neighborhood, currently operating as a small hotel. The funding will be used to acquire the operating property and construct an addition to increase the square footage by almost 50%. The existing building is approximately 7,200 SF and the addition will be approximately 3,200 SF. The new facility will accommodate 20-30 beds for residential gambling treatment and up to 10 staff members. OHL is requesting this funding be moved to P1 due to the critical needs for problem gambling services in Louisiana. Data compiled by the Office of Behavioral Health shows that an estimated 5.4% of Louisiana's adult population is at risk for addiction and Louisiana's Problem Gambling Helpline received 17,251 callers in the 2020 fiscal year. With the legalization of sports betting in Louisiana, gambling addiction rates are higher according to the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling. According to a study by personal finance website Wallet Hub, Louisiana ranks number 6 for the most gambling-addicted states; however, there is only one residential treatment facility in the entire state and none in the Greater New Orleans Metropolitan Area. The only resource statewide currently is located in Shreveport, and only offers 21 beds. OHL's facility in New Orleans would more than double the bed capacity for the entire state. While the services would be located in New Orleans, beds would be open for all Louisiana residents.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Professional Services. . . $0
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $4,790,000
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $2,210,000
          Operating Services. . . . $0
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $1,750,000

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?
          No

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          Currently, there are no residential gambling treatment facilities in the New Orleans Metropolitan Area or in close proximity to the metro area. The 2016 Louisiana Study of Problem Gambling estimated there were over 280,000 persons in Louisiana who could have gambling problems that need to be assessed or treated. Problem gambling is gambling behavior which causes disruptions in any major area of life: psychological, physical, social or vocational. Unfortunately, very few individuals are able to seek treatment due to the lack of treatment options. The only residential resource in Louisiana is located in Shreveport, a considerable driving distance that would be considered a large barrier to treatment. With the recent legalization of sports betting in Louisiana, it stands to reason that the numbers of individuals at risk for problem gambling in Louisiana will increase.

OHL is the largest nonprofit addiction treatment provider agency in the state. Although located in New Orleans, OHL acts as a "safety net" provider for the entire state, with nearly 2,000 people each month receiving substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, primary care and mental health services from OHL's highly qualified and experienced clinical staff. OHL provides residential treatment program for men and women and also offers two Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) that provide vital primary medical care services, regardless of ability to pay, to thousands of individuals each year. As OHL operates a continuum of care for behavioral health services, it has the organizational capacity and internal resources to wrap problem gambling treatment into its service operations.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          OHL's New Orleans-based facility would more than double state capacity for gambling addiction treatment. This project will allow for strengthening of Louisiana's critical behavioral health infrastructure and expansion of services for the citizens of Louisiana during a time of intense need. By September 2022, people across the state had wagered nearly $1.5 billion on sports so far this year, according to Louisiana Gaming Board Chairman. This rise in popularity around sports betting will lead to more people falling into addiction and this program seeks to add much needed treatment resources to the entire state.

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           6 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:
                 NA
    
     (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:
                 NA

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

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

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: 
               NA

(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:
               NA

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
                NA

          What is the nature of the relationship?  NA

(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

Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority
3616 S 1-10 Service Road W #200,
Metairie, LA 70001

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               Problem Gambling Residential Treatment (no rate information is currently known as these services are not currently in operation).


Contact Information
name:  Edward Carlson 
                                       address:  1125 N. Tonti Street, New Orleans, LA 70119
                                       phone:  5044949628
                                       fax:  5043248614
                                       e-mail:  ecarlson@ohlinc.org
                                       relationship to entity:  Chief Executive Officer