In a moving Spectrum TV interview, Tahira Malik, founder of Samad’s House, and Caroline Gatson, a former resident turned Chief Ambassador, shared their deeply personal journeys of resilience, recovery, and the life-saving power of harm reduction. Their stories underscore the critical need for sustained harm-reduction funding to save lives and rebuild communities.
Over the past five years, Samad’s House has offered hope and inspiration for women and families in Milwaukee County. What began in 2020 as a single sober living home has grown into a network of three homes and a behavioral health clinic, offering comprehensive services to help women and families recover and stay sober. To date, Samad’s House has empowered over 75 women and nearly a dozen families to reclaim their lives, showing its profound impact on the community.
“We focus on the mind, body, and spirit while unifying with our families and children,” Malik explained during the interview. Samad’s House also provides compassionate harm reduction tools and resources to the community, such as naloxone and fentanyl test strips, to prevent overdoses and save lives.
Caroline Gatson, who lived in one of the homes three years ago, now serves as a Chief Ambassador, helping others navigate their recovery journeys. “The experience I’ve had seeing Ms. Malik grow this organization is phenomenal,” Gatson shared. “Her passion and dedication are unmatched, and it’s inspiring to see the impact Samad’s House has on so many lives.”
While Samad’s House and other harm reduction initiatives in Milwaukee have made remarkable progress, the need for sustained funding remains critical to maintain this momentum. Federal budget cuts and restrictions on harm reduction programs pose significant challenges, even as Milwaukee County has seen a 30% drop in overdose deaths in 2024, thanks to innovative community efforts and local investments, including $34 million from opioid settlement funds. Continued support is essential to keep saving lives and strengthening these efforts.
However, the racial disparity in overdose deaths remains a stark reality. In 2024, Black residents in Milwaukee County experienced a fatal overdose rate of 76 per 100,000 people—nearly double the rate for White residents. Black residents accounted for 42% of overdose deaths, despite making up only 27% of the population, and having similar drug use as Whites. Recognizing these disparities should motivate public officials, nonprofits, the private sector, and communities to support the solutions that are working.
Giavana Margo, a Program Manager for the Vital Strategies Overdose Prevention Program, emphasized the need for targeted funding to address these inequities. “We know what works in preventing drug fatalities,” she said in an interview with the Frontline Voices Newsletter. “Now, we must ensure that funding and programs are prioritized in Black and Brown communities, where people are dying disproportionately.”
Harm reduction strategies—such as naloxone distribution, fentanyl test strips, and medication-assisted treatment—are proven to save lives and support recovery. These compassionate, evidence-based approaches meet individuals where they are, prioritizing dignity and practical support over judgment. “To combat the devastating impact of drug overdose deaths in Milwaukee’s Black communities and across Wisconsin, it is imperative that the public and private sectors, along with philanthropic organizations, provide robust and sustained funding for harm reduction strategies,” Margo said. “These life-saving approaches are a lifeline for individuals, families, and communities.”
Samad’s House exemplifies the transformative power of harm reduction. By offering day treatment, intensive outpatient services, and harm reduction tools, the organization provides women and the community with the resources they need to achieve lasting sobriety, reunite with their families, and reintegrate into society with strength and dignity. Educational workshops on substance use disorders and mental health further empower women to rebuild their lives. Donations can be made HERE.
“There’s no way I could have imagined this would grow into something so magnificent, so impactful,” Malik reflected in the Spectrum interview. “Providing a space for women to take their first step into recovery is my purpose in life.”
As Milwaukee continues to combat the overdose crisis, the stories of Tahira Malik, Caroline Gatson, and the women of Samad’s House stand as a powerful testament to the life-saving impact of harm reduction and the urgent need for sustained funding. Together, they are not just saving lives—they are restoring hope and rebuilding communities.
