Opioid-settlement committee recommends $550,200 to hire two intensive HIV case managers in Bangor

The Opioid Settlement Funds Advisory Committee voted to send a recommendation to the Bangor City Council to spend $550,200 to hire two intensive case managers to respond to an ongoing HIV outbreak affecting people who are unhoused and who have substance-use histories.

The recommendation, presented at the committee’s Wednesday meeting, requests two full-time intensive case management positions for a two-year period and asks that the city present the full $550,200 proposal to council as a funding recommendation. "The committee recommends that the City of Bangor immediately hire 2 intensive case managers to respond, assist, and coordinate ... services and system navigation for individuals who've been diagnosed with HIV as part of the ongoing HIV outbreak here in the Bangor area," said Jamie, a Bangor Public Health official, while walking the committee through the written proposal.

The recommendation follows data presented by city staff showing the city has received multiple opioid settlement payments in recent years and has roughly $1 million currently in a settlement account. "The City of Bangor in 2022 received $417,000 roughly. In '23, just…