Milwaukee County's First Step Community Recovery Center faces closure as officials work to address a $45 million budget shortfall, sparking concerns from community members who say the facility has been a lifeline for those battling addiction.
The detox center, located at the Marcia P. Coggs Human Services Center, could be eliminated under County Executive David Crowley's proposed $17 million in cuts to addiction recovery programs. The County Board is scheduled to vote on the budget next month.
Watch: Locals speak out against proposed cuts to addiction recovery center
"It all starts with detox, that's the first door of hope for the people who suffer with addiction in our community," said Bishop Willie Brooks Jr. of Upper Room Bible Church.
Brooks, who helps others recover from addiction, argues that the cuts could have deadly consequences for Milwaukee's most vulnerable residents.
"The road to the governor's office runs right through our community for him, how can you disregard our needs?" Brooks said.
Patricia McThune, who recovered through the First Step program after decades of battling addiction, now works at Upper Room Bible Church and returns to First Step to encourage others in recovery.
"It gave me a start where I was able to get myself cleaned up," McThune said.
She fears the program's closure could lead to increased crime and violence in the community.
"It would bring a lot of robberies, I'm gonna be honest, a lot of killing, a lot of people hurt, laid out on the street, doing whatever they can, cause when I was strung out, I did whatever I could to get the drugs," McThune said.
Minnie Joy, another First Step success story, was once homeless and addicted, sleeping under the 27th Street bridge for six months.
"I just couldn't lick it," Joy said.
Joy credits First Step with saving her life, providing her with the foundation and resources needed for recovery.
"That's where I got my foundation, how to fight, the right literature, the right places to go, the groups to surround myself with, we really need to keep it open," Joy said.
She warns that closing the center could unleash a crisis on Milwaukee.
"Opioid addiction is a whole other beast, and you don't wanna unleash it on the city of Milwaukee," Joy said.
"This city will experience violence to a degree it has never experienced before, cause these people are physically hurting."
Crowley's office responded shortly before the story aired stating:
From County Executive David Crowley: “Funding and regulatory changes at the state and federal levels have significantly impacted behavioral health services for individuals and families in Milwaukee County. We unfortunately were forced to make extremely tough decisions in this budget to preserve as many critical programs and mandated services as possible in order to serve the greatest number of residents. Looking ahead, I will do everything I can to ensure quality, accessible services remain available for people in need.”
County Executive David Crowley also sen this information from the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services:
- Detoxification and Sober-Up services like those provided at Matt Talbot First Step are not federally or state mandated services, and as currently delivered by First Step, are not eligible for Medicaid reimbursement.
- Many alternative medical detoxification options exist across the community, including the Aurora Psychiatric Hospital (Dewey Center), Aurora St. Lukes Hospital, or any hospital system operated emergency department, as well as outpatient Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) providers such as Community Medical Services.
- Detoxification services delivered in a hospital or outpatient setting are reimbursed by Medicaid, and the current utilization data shows that the great majority of people historically served by First Step are Medicaid eligible.
- People for whom detox is a medical emergency can receive prompt medical services at any of the eleven hospital emergency departments in Milwaukee County and can’t be turned away due to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA).
- Most detoxification episodes for opioids are provided as an outpatient service, and the non-Matt Talbot operated residential providers throughout the Behavioral Health Services’ residential AODA network already coordinate medical detoxification for most of their residents, and do not rely on First Step for detoxification or referrals.
- Anyone in need of detoxification services or any crisis mental health intervention are encouraged to call the statewide Crisis Line at 988 or MKE Mobile Crisis at 414-257-7222.
Community members who have benefited from the program are urging county officials to reconsider the cuts.
"Think about those in need," McThune said.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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