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Shelter director urges assembly to clarify use of opioid settlement funds for local services
Summary
A representative of Brother Francis Homeless Shelter urged the assembly to coordinate and allocate opioid settlement dollars locally to address overdoses and support treatment and prevention, saying the assembly established a fund in April 2022 but community organizations need clarity on available uses.
Susan Smith, director of the Brother Francis Homeless Shelter, told the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly during public comment on Feb. 13 that the borough should move to clarify and deploy opioid-settlement funds for local treatment, prevention and supportive services.
Smith said the assembly adopted an ordinance in April 2022 establishing an opioid settlement fund, and that part of the borough's disbursement may flow from national settlement proceeds. She recounted losing three clients in recent months to opioid overdose and urged the borough to collaborate with nonprofits to identify the most effective local uses of settlement dollars. "If those funds are not being utilized, we must collaborate and figure out the most effective use for these dollars," Smith said.
Manager Amy Williams said staff intended to include opioid-settlement funding in the nonprofit funding review process to ensure equitable opportunity for requests. The manager added that staff would include opioid funding as a topic in FY26 budget discussions so organizations can request those dollars alongside other nonprofit grant requests.
Smith asked the assembly to help ensure that funding moves to prevention, treatment and community supports rather than remaining unused. Assembly members thanked Smith and asked staff to track the settlement fund status and provide procedural guidance for nonprofits to request funds during the borough's grant process.
