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Nonprofit reports $150,000 in Wheeling opioid settlement funds helped 257 households
Summary
The Ohio County Family Resource Network and partner agencies reported that a $150,000 city award from opioid settlements, distributed Nov. 2024–Dec. 2025, assisted 257 household applications (581 residents) with rental or utility help and administrative costs; Catholic Charities served as fiscal manager.
Claudia Raymer (who said she has since married and is now McKay), executive director of the Ohio County Family Resource Network, told the Wheeling City Council the collaborative project using $150,000 in city opioid-settlement funds provided housing- and utility-related assistance to Wheeling residents.
"When the opioid settlement funds first came available in Wheeling I spoke several times about the importance of using these dollars to directly help the people and families who have carried the weight of the opioid crisis," Raymer (McKay) said. She described a partnership among Catholic Charities West Virginia (fiscal manager), the Ohio County Family Resource Network, Soup Kitchen of Greater Wheeling, Greater Wheeling Coalition for the Homeless, Laughlin Chapel and Life Hub.
Raymer told council the collaborative began receiving funds in November 2024, and applications were processed between Dec. 9, 2024, and Dec. 9, 2025. She said the program processed 257 household applications and reached 581 Wheeling residents, including 240 children, 324 adults and 17 seniors. She said $38,175.31 was disbursed for utility assistance and that $30,000 supported fiscal management, administration and reporting. Catholic Charities processed 198 applications; the Family Resource Network processed 33; the Soup Kitchen processed 16; the Homeless Coalition processed nine; and Life Hub one.
Raymer gave two brief individual examples to illustrate the impact: one household received help with a utility bill for the first time after long-term caregiving for a family member, and another client used settlement funds for a security deposit that enabled a father completing inpatient treatment to secure housing and continue outpatient services while reuniting with his children.
Raymer said the collaborative's work aligns with "Schedule B of the West Virginia First MOU," which she cited as calling for support for housing, wraparound services and community stabilization for individuals and families impacted by opioid use disorder. She asked the council to continue supporting collaborative models and partnerships with community-based organizations that prioritize transparency and coordination.
Council members thanked Raymer and there were no objections recorded in the transcript. Raymer said she was not asking for additional funds at the meeting but added the collaborative would welcome another round of funding if council chose to continue the project.
