ELKINS – The Regional Task Force on Addiction, Homelessness and Mental Health will host its annual public forum on Thursday, the City of Elkins has announced.

At 6 p.m., the Regional Task Force on Addiction, Homelessness and Mental Health event will take place at the Phil Gainer Community Center. Members of the public are “strongly encouraged to attend.”

According to a city press release, the event is an opportunity for community members to hear updates, provide input and engage with leaders on “coordinated responses to these interconnected challenges.”

The forum will provide the public with critical updates, as well as allow city officials to seek the community’s guidance, the release stated. Key agenda items will include identifying persistent gaps in critical services, reviewing the status of grants and funding to address the crisis in North Central West Virginia and hearing personal testimonies from community members.

Keynote speakers for the event include Joshua Barker, Director of Substance Abuse Prevention and Recovery under the Office of the WV Attorney General, and Dr. Stephen Loyd, Director of the Office of Drug Control Policy.

Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco, Elkins Police Chief Travis Bennett and Upshur and Randolph Counties Peer Recovery Support Specialist (PRSS) Markie Jeffries will also be discussing the Task Force’s work over the past year.

“This forum is about listening,” Marco said in the release. “Our Task Force can develop plans, but the true direction must come from the community’s voice and lived experiences. We need to hear from you to effectively align our limited resources where they are needed most.”

Members of the Regional Task Force, including local officials, law enforcement and nonprofit partners will also be in attendance.

Established in 2021, the Task Force brings together local officials, law enforcement and community organizations to address homelessness, substance abuse and mental health needs, the City of Elkins said. The Task Force meets monthly in Elkins, usually on the fourth Thursday of every month.

“The Task Force strives to identify gaps in services, coordinate resources and implement sustainable solutions to these challenges in North Central West Virginia, including identifying peer recovery support specialists (PRSS), safe sober-living spaces and expanded recovery facilities,” a city press release states.