Nash County earmarks $400,000 in opioid settlement funds for recovery housing and reentry programs

On May 5 the Nash County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution authorizing expenditure of opioid settlement funds to support two high‑impact strategies identified by the county’s opioid settlement advisory council: recovery housing support and reentry programs.

Assistant county manager Tia Fula told the board the advisory council recommended $200,000 for recovery housing support and $200,000 for reentry programs, with both allocations to run through June 30, 2026. Fula summarized the state memorandum of agreement definitions the county used to select strategies: recovery housing supports can include assistance with rent, moving deposits, utilities or funding recovery housing programs that provide housing to people receiving medication‑assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. Reentry programs are defined as supports that connect incarcerated persons with addiction treatment, recovery supports, harm‑reduction services, health care and employment/housing assistance upon release.

Commissioners asked about limits on individual payments and whether relocation outside the county would be permissible. Fula said there is no set individual cap and that funds are intended to be flexible to meet client needs; she added the program may fund services that place people in housing outside Nash County if that is the most appropriate placement. Fula said recipients of funding will be required to provide data and that the county will produce an impact report annually for the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners and local review.

Commissioner Davis moved to approve the resolution; Commissioner Leggett seconded. The resolution passed by voice vote.

Ending: The board approved the allocations; staff will track outcomes and report impact data in accordance with the settlement MOA and county reporting practices.