Health
Federal budget cuts will keep Tellurian’s Jackson House from opening
A crisis facility that would provide help to those in need of mental health and addiction services isn’t opening due to what they say are government-imposed budget cuts.
Tellurian Behavior Health’s Jackson House was supposed to open May 1. It would have provided eight people services with mental health and addiction issues.
In a statement released on Friday, Tellurian said, “As of this week, government-imposed budget cuts have made this opening impossible.”
“This program was an answer to a rapidly growing problem in the La Crosse Community. One that law enforcement and first responders had requested due to the increase of individuals needing mental health urgent care,” said Tellurian CEO, Kevin Florek in the statement. “Without this program, hospitals and jails will receive these individuals, which is not the ideal situation for a person in crisis. They are the real victims in these budget cuts.”
Last summer, Tellurian received a $35,000 grant from Mayo Clinic Health System to help get the new facility off the ground.
“We will have a hole in the services we are able to provide,” said Tim Blumentritt, Tellurian’s Director of La Crosse Social Services. “These budget cuts are not taking into account how real people are being affected. I’m heartbroken over the loss this is for our community.”
Tellurian continues to provide services at its Crisis Assessment Recovery and Empowerment, or CARE Center on the south side of La Crosse.
Colleen LeBlanc
April 5, 2025 at 8:14 am
This is such a needed facility! Sad that it is not opening. Emplify is opening a few mental health beds. This opening along with the Emplify beds would go a long way towards providing mental health services. Very disappointing to read this.
walden
April 5, 2025 at 3:04 pm
The article doesn’t specify what budget cuts are at issue, why they are in doubt, or the amount of the expected funding shortfall. Who the writes this stuff?
Apparently, the program sponsors thought all the “free money” would never end. La Crosse is controlled by NGOs and non-profits…hard times are ahead for them.