Oakland County Approves Funding to Keep Crisis Response Unit Operating

Oakland County's specialized Crisis Response Unit will continue its work connecting residents to addiction and mental health services after county commissioners approved a $500000 funding package to keep the program running for another year.

The decision comes after the sheriff's office warned that the unit, which has intervened in hundreds of overdose and mental health emergencies, would have been forced to shut down when its federal grant expires in 2025. The county's finance committee voted unanimously on September 2 to amend the budget and allocate general fund dollars to sustain the program through the end of fiscal year 2027.

Program Faces Funding Cliff

The Crisis Response Unit was created after Oakland County Sheriff's deputies began carrying Narcan to reverse opioid overdoses and saw a need for ongoing support beyond emergency response. The unit consists of one sergeant and two deputies who follow up with overdose survivors and connect them to treatment and recovery resources. According to the sheriff's office, the team has saved hundreds of lives since its launch.

Previously, the unit operated on a federal grant set to expire in the first half of 2025. Sheriff Mike Bouchard notified county officials in August that without new funding, the program would not be able to continue. The sheriff's office also applied for a $375000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, but that request remains pending.

Commissioners Approve Local Funding

On September 2, the county's finance committee approved a budget amendment to allocate $500000 from the general fund for the Crisis Response Unit. The full board of commissioners is scheduled to ratify the fiscal year 2027 budget on September 17. County Chief Financial Officer Brian Lefler confirmed the funding will cover the program through September 2027, starting October 1.

Commissioner Angela Powell, a Democrat, described the unit as "near and dear" to her and emphasized the need to secure future funding beyond the next year. Sheriff Bouchard thanked the commissioners and County Executive Dave Coulter for their support, calling the program "life-altering and often life-saving."

What Residents Should Know

The Crisis Response Unit will remain operational without interruption, continuing to provide follow-up and support for residents experiencing drug overdoses or mental health crises. The $500000 allocation ensures the team can maintain its current staffing and outreach efforts for at least one more year while the sheriff's office seeks additional grant funding for the future.

Oakland County's move to fund the unit locally highlights the growing demand for public safety programs that address addiction and mental health at the community level. While the immediate funding gap has been closed, the long-term sustainability of the Crisis Response Unit will depend on continued support from both local and federal sources.

In Oakland County, the sheriff's office operates as a countywide law enforcement agency, providing services to communities that do not have their own police departments and supporting local agencies with specialized units. The Crisis Response Unit is one of several programs aimed at addressing the opioid epidemic and mental health needs across the county. The next step will be the full board's budget vote on September 17, which is expected to finalize the funding for the coming year.