Houston County commissioners to review $30,000 request for neighborhood recovery service center

April Clark presented an application asking Houston County for $30,000 to finish a neighborhood service center that would provide post-treatment transitional housing and on-site supports for people leaving detox and inpatient treatment. The commission discussed eligibility, monitoring and whether county funds would principally benefit Houston County residents.

Clark told commissioners the program is intended as a step-down residence after treatment, operates on a voluntary basis and would coordinate with treatment providers. “I created that name for this particular project because it’s after treatment after detox,” Clark said in describing the model. She said stays would be individualized rather than capped at a single fixed term and estimated that about 70% of participants would be judicially referred but that walk-ins and non-justice-involved clients would also be eligible.

Commissioners pressed staff and the applicant on accountability and residency. The commission said it needs a paper trail for awards and that recipients should document use of funds; staff noted current practice requires receipt submission and recommended adding a contract or written commitment for funded organizations. County staff (Trevor, the state opioid consultant) will confirm whether the county already applied for related Purdue opioid settlement funds and whether the proposed expenditures are allowable under those awards.

Clark outlined planned operations: four weekly recovery meetings (two open to the public), transportation via program vans, on-site drug screening and 24-hour security. When fully operational, the model could house roughly 70–72 people; early operations would scale up more slowly and reserve one unit for local law enforcement to live on-site as part of the security plan.

Commissioners agreed to request a written letter of commitment from partner agencies guaranteeing some access for Houston County residents and to prepare contract language in advance. The commission recommended sending the application to the county council for consideration and placed the item on the working-session agenda for Jan. 13 at 5:00 p.m., with a potential council vote on Jan. 20 if materials are complete.

The applicant sought flexible use of the award (furnishings or recovery-housing expenses depending on award rules) and indicated other funding partners were expected; Clark said the county’s $30,000 request would be part of a wider funding plan that also sought contributions from neighboring jurisdictions and private partners.

Next steps: staff will confirm application eligibility under opioid-settlement and TOAC rules, provide updated fund-balance figures to commissioners on request, draft a contract template for the award, and circulate any partner commitment letters before the Jan. 13 working session.