Save the Michaels closes Lockport recovery center after loss of funding

The addiction services provider says it lost state contracts "without any notice"

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Save the Michaels, an addiction services provider in Western New York, announced it is closing its Lockport recovery center after losing its state funding contracts "without any notice." The organization had provided peer support, drop-in services, transportation to treatment, and other critical services to those seeking recovery. Save the Michaels says it has "fully cooperated with all requests from government" and that the new leadership was not given a chance to move forward, raising concerns about the impact on individuals and families who relied on these services.

Why it matters

The closure of Save the Michaels' Lockport center represents a significant loss of addiction recovery resources in the region, at a time when access to treatment and support services is already limited. The organization had been a grassroots provider serving the community for over 15 years, and its shutdown raises questions about the state's oversight and funding decisions for addiction services.

The details

Save the Michaels announced it learned "without any notice" that the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports chose to end its contracts, leading to the closure of its Lockport location. The organization had provided peer support, drop-in services, transportation to treatment, and other critical services to those seeking recovery. Save the Michaels says it has "fully cooperated with all requests from government" and that the new leadership was not given a chance to move forward, despite the organization's long history of serving the community.

  • Save the Michaels announced the closure on March 3, 2026.
  • Erie County confirmed it was pulling funding from Save the Michaels the previous week due to "significant concerns regarding longstanding fiscal and operational issues."

The players

Save the Michaels

A grassroots addiction services provider that had been serving Western New York for over 15 years, offering peer support, drop-in services, transportation to treatment, and other critical recovery resources.

New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS)

The state agency that chose to end its contracts with Save the Michaels, leading to the closure of the organization's Lockport recovery center.

Chris Harzinski

The founder of Creative Restorations, Inc., an organization that provides peer-based support and basic needs for individuals struggling with addiction, and is now looking to expand its services to fill the gap left by Save the Michaels' closure.

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What they’re saying

“For 15 years, Save the Michaels has been a grassroots organization serving Western New York with compassion, urgency, and lived experience. We have answered tens of thousands of calls and helped thousands enter treatment. We have helped everyone who calls for help. No other organization does the work that we do”

— Save the Michaels (Save the Michaels Facebook post)

“Anytime we lose any resource or any business inside of our community, it's a detriment to our community. I feel like there's going to be potentially, folks that need some help and some services that need that attention, and they need those services.”

— Chris Harzinski, Founder, Creative Restorations, Inc. (WKBW)

What’s next

Creative Restorations, Inc. is now looking to expand its services to Lockport to help fill the gap left by Save the Michaels' closure, an effort that will be even more critical given the loss of this important recovery resource.

The takeaway

The shutdown of Save the Michaels' Lockport recovery center highlights the fragility of the addiction services landscape and the need for greater state oversight and funding to ensure continuity of care for individuals and families seeking support. The loss of this grassroots provider raises concerns about access to treatment and recovery resources in the region.