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Person County approves $205,114 in opioid-settlement funds for Freedom House halfway house
Summary
Person County commissioners approved $205,114 from opioid settlement funds to support a nine‑bed, 24/7 staffed halfway house operated by Freedom House Recovery Center to serve uninsured or underinsured men in recovery.
Person County commissioners on April 21 approved a resolution to appropriate $205,114 in opioid-settlement funds to support a Freedom House Recovery Center halfway house intended for low-income, uninsured or underinsured men with substance use disorder.
Janet Clayton, the county’s opioid-settlement advisory committee coordinator, told the board Person County’s total anticipated settlement distribution is about $4.8 million over 16 years; $1,416,700 had been received to date. The county’s advisory committee selected several strategies under the settlement memorandum of agreement; the board previously funded school-based substance-use education and an EMS post‑overdose response team and was being asked to fund a transitional residential facility (halfway house) operated by Freedom House.
Clayton said the Freedom House facility, located within city limits on Main Street, is complete and has a certificate of occupancy but must be fully staffed and operational before state licensing and local behavioral-health entities can certify it. The proposal requests $205,114 to fund start-up and operations for the period beginning May 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. Clayton said the house will serve up to nine men, provide a comprehensive outpatient treatment plan, include peer support services, and generally place clients for about six months with more intensive services during the first 60 days.
Joyce Harper of Freedom House attended and answered questions about the home. Clayton said the advisory committee, which includes public‑safety and health partners, voted to recommend funding after the facility received a certificate of occupancy. Commissioners asked whether law-enforcement and emergency-services partners had reviewed the plan; Clayton said those officials served on the advisory committee and supported the recommendation.
Commissioner Webber moved to adopt the funding resolution and authorize the $205,114 appropriation from opioid-settlement funds for the May 1, 2025–June 30, 2026 period. The motion carried on a voice vote; the board recorded no roll-call breakdown in the meeting transcript.
