Murfreesboro, TN - Middle Tennessee State University is stepping up in a big way to help Tennesseans battling opioid addiction. In partnership with H.U.S.T.L.E. Recovery, MTSU’s Center for Health and Human Services and its Office of Prevention Science and Recovery have secured nearly $8.7 million in grant funding to launch a series of recovery-focused initiatives across the state.

The funding, awarded through the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council, will support the creation of respite housing—safe, short-term living spaces for individuals waiting to enter formal treatment programs. These facilities will be established in West, Middle, and East Tennessee, offering clean, trigger-free environments where people can begin recovery routines and stay committed to treatment while awaiting placement.

Troy Sandifer, executive director of HUSTLE Recovery, said the idea grew from a pilot project in Rutherford County that revealed a critical gap in care. “People would finish treatment and have nowhere to go. Others would get out of jail and relapse because they couldn’t find work,” Sandifer explained. “This project bridges that gap.”

Beyond housing, the grant will expand HUSTLE Recovery’s services to include residential aftercare, transportation support, counseling, job training, and more. Sandifer emphasized that having MTSU as a partner allows Hustle Recovery to focus on direct care, while the university handles grant coordination, evaluation, and research.

Cynthia Chafin, director of MTSU’s Center for Health and Human Services, called the partnership a perfect alignment with the center’s mission to improve health outcomes across Tennessee. “This work will change—and maybe even save—lives,” she said.

With HUSTLE Recovery providing boots-on-the-ground support and MTSU offering strategic oversight, the collaboration is poised to make a lasting impact. As the opioid crisis continues to affect communities statewide, this initiative offers hope, stability, and a path forward for those ready to reclaim their lives.