LOCKPORT, N.Y. — Save the Michaels of the World opened its Lockport recovery center in 2019 and moved to the current location on Walnut Street in May 2023.

Program Director Emily Buteyn said the operation has expanded significantly, averaging roughly 1,000 visits a month, including services for about 100 homeless individuals.

"We have grown, which means for safety and just overall staffing reasons we've increased our staff," Buteyn said. "It also means we've increased the supplies that we need, little things like cleaning supplies we need more of, coffee cups we are going through faster. Coffee, laundry detergent, all of those things that you don't necessarily think about."

She said while there are other outpatient clinics, the recovery center is the only facility like it in Niagara County and much of the rural region around it.

"There is literally no other place to go," Buteyn said. "If somebody can't come here, the second best and only other place that's considered a public place where people who are unhoused are able to go is the public library. However, the public library does not have food, laundry, case managers [and] recovery coaches."

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports has allocated $500,000 annually to Recovery, Community and Outreach Centers across the state and last year added an additional $35,000 earmarked for outreach and employee retention. Save the Michaels, with a larger client base than others, asked for additional money but, in a letter earlier this month, OASAS told the organization it was not responsible for deficits incurred by unapproved expenditures and denied the request.

"As I'm aware, we have enough funding through OASAS to get through the month of July," Buteyn said. "Funding comes back in October, which leaves us with August and September as a question mark."

President and CEO Avi Israel initially told OASAS that Save the Michaels had decided to close the facility, but has since resolved to remain open — even if it takes drastic measures.

"We're not going to let the people die," Israel said. "We're going to find a way to keep it open. We're going to ask the public to help us and if I have to mortgage my house to get it done, I will do that."

In Albany Wednesday, a handful of advocates shared their frustrations with the Opioid Settlement Advisory Board about the state's lack of action or a plan to use roughly $335 million in available money pharmaceutical companies have already paid New York for their part in creating the epidemic.

"We need to have a bucket of money that is available to grassroots organizations who cannot go through the endless red tape that New York state has put in place for organizations to obtain funding. They need to have low barrier funding available for people who are out, boots on the ground, doing this work keeping people alive every day," Alexis Pleus, Truth Pharm founder and executive director, said.

At least some state officials suggested they are listening even if they haven't provided immediate solutions.

"We have to continue to hear these stories and not only listen to them but actually take action and determine, is there something that we can do to promote change according to that individual's experience," New York State Department of Health Executive Deputy Commissioner Johanne Morne said.

State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt said Save the Michaels provides an essential service to Western New York and the efforts have helped save countless lives.

"Organizations that are on the frontlines, combating addiction to opioids, prescription, and other dangerous drugs, are vital as we continue to battle this deadly epidemic. It is important we continue to provide the resources they need to assist individuals struggling with addiction," Ortt said in a statement.

Save the Michaels said it needs about $100,000 to bridge the gap until the next round of funding in October.

"It may seem like, oh, well, just open in October," Buteyn said. "It doesn't work that way when people are so close to death and are surviving day-to-day."

The public can make donations in person or by visiting savethemichaels.org and the organization also welcomes contributions of food and personal hygiene supplies.