Bradley County hearing: eight nonprofits present requests for opioid settlement funds; requests exceed available dollars

Bradley County finance committee members heard presentations Oct. 6 from eight local nonprofits that requested allocations from the county’s opioid settlement fund. The organizations outlined services that range from prevention and youth education to recovery case management, housing supports, medical care and specialized services for survivors of human trafficking.

The county hearing followed the committee’s earlier approval of routine budget amendments. Presenters — representing The Caring Place, Foundation House, Bradley Prevention Coalition, Boys & Girls Clubs, ATS The Bridge, Cares Community Health, Cleveland Emergency Shelter (Bradley Cleveland Community Services Agency) and Willow Bend Farms — described the populations they serve and the specific ways they would use opioid-disbursement dollars.

Key requests and program highlights: - The Caring Place (presenter identified as Sydney) asked to increase its opioid-year request to $75,000 after correcting typos in an earlier application. The organization described its resource market and case-management work: 1,250 households served monthly for food; 581 case-management appointments last year; nearly $400,000 in direct support payments for rent and utilities in the past year. The Caring Place said opioid funds have covered housing stability assistance, training (Getting Ahead peer program), limited direct payments and case management; it proposed $60,000 in direct financial assistance, $7,500 for case management and $7,500 for participant training for…