SEPTEMBER 5, 2025 HARM REDUCTION GROUNDCOVER NEWS Washtenaw County awards opioid settlement funding to community-based programs BETH HAMILTON Washtenaw County The Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners has approved funding awards for multiple community organizations to address harm from the opioid crisis using County opioid settlement funds. Funding awards are for a three-year grant period from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028. “We are thrilled to see these critical dollars getting out the door and into the hands of the organizations doing lifesaving work every day in our community,” said Katie Scott, Chair of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners and Commissioner for District 9. "These funds represent Washtenaw County’s commitment to healing, to prevention, and to creating pathways to recovery for those most impacted by the opioid crisis," Scott said. "I’m proud of the collaborative and equity-driven process that brought us to this moment, and I look forward to the real and lasting impact this funding will have across Washtenaw County.” The Health Department is leading Washtenaw County’s planning to leverage local opioid settlement funds. The County will receive more than $16 million total over the next 18 years to CRISIS from last page in crisis. “There are a lot of low-income and unhoused people that utilize the library, and some who are in need of harm reduction and crisis response services. I refer and partner with LEAF and CBS along with other partners like Wolverine Street Medicine (U-M medical students) and Fed-Up Ministries (food truck, showers and laundry) to attempt to meet the needs of individuals in crisis. These services fill in the gaps in the low-income and unhoused community of Washtenaw County. We need more funding for services like these instead of police and jails, which have become institutions of choice for those with mental illness.” Note: now that local, state and federal law enforcement agencies have been assigned to remove the homeless involuntarily without care and compassion there is a pressing need for these services in our community. Harm reduction and crisis response is all about community. Ordinary, everyday people come together to help and render aid to those who are unhoused, address harm from the ongoing opioid crisis. “Increasing access to harm reduction tools, treatment and recovery support saves lives here in Washtenaw County,” said Jimena Loveluck, MSW, health officer with the Washtenaw County Health Department. “We are grateful to our local partners who lead this critical work and we look forward to seeing how these opioid settlement funds build on the encouraging progress that has been made so far.” A committee facilitated by the Health Department reviewed and scored the funding proposals. The committee evaluated submissions based on responsiveness, qualifications, relevance of experience and alignment with the 2024 Community Assessment Report and the Washtenaw County Opioid Settlement Steering Committee’s identified funding categories. The Washtenaw County Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee will provide ongoing oversight, ensure transparency, and monitor use of settlement funds. “The Opioid Settlement Advisory Committee will be essential in ensuring our opioid settlement dollars are having a real impact in those with mental illness, emotional issues and those who struggle with drug addiction. These non-profit support organizations are priceless resources for the unhoused community in Washtenaw County because they meet the unhoused where they are in their current situations and in their stages of recovery by building essential support relationships. Law agencies have been assigned to remove the homeless to full, unsafe, and under-staffed shelters, and then ticket and fine them for sleeping outside.The unhoused don’t have money to pay tickets and fines, so the unhoused end up going to jail because they often cannot pay these tickets - furthering the problem of homelessness. The unhoused are victims of displacement and forced into an unfortunate situation by a money-based capitalist system and then further victimized; punished for having nowhere to go. There are few effective mental health services in America. The mentally ill suffer on the streets or in the penal system. And the so-called drug treatment programs the ‘system’ wants to put people into aren’t for everyone. In my opinion, the 12 step system of substance abuse recovery is a good place to start but 12 steps are only the beginning of the journey to recovery. Individuals must imagine their own recovery (life without drugs or alcohol) and pursue the intimate details of that vision to make it a reality. I’m a lifetime resident of Washtenaw County and have been involved with the unhoused community for more than 20 years. I'm a believer in this methodology of recovery and response because I was once addicted to drugs and alcohol and unhoused in need of care. I see the care and compassion these organizations provide. I say: thank you to these wonderful people who go that extra mile to help their fellow humans. Shout out to LEAF, Care Based Safety, Fed-up Ministries, Wolverine Street Medicine, Growing Hope and the Mercy, Peace and Hospitality Houses. Want to be involved with helping the unhoused community? Be on the lookout for harm reduction and crisis response workshops put on by LEAF and Care Based Safety! LEAF's new office at 211 E Michigan Ave our community,” said Loveluck. “Community members with lived experience and local substance use, health, public safety, and academic professionals are encouraged to apply.” This committee will meet virtually Summary of FY2026-28 Funding for 1 to 2 hours every other month with additional meetings scheduled as needed. See the full resolution from the Board of Commissioners for additional details. 5
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