Law enforcement and nonprofits pitch Bridge House model, seek opioid settlement funding
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Summary
Sheriff's representatives and Davidson Medical Ministries proposed a short‑term Bridge House to provide housing and wraparound services to post‑overdose and justice‑involved adults, seeking opioid settlement funds for a 3‑year pilot with a first‑year request of about $1.27 million and recurring annual costs near $725,000.
Law enforcement leaders and Davidson Medical Ministries presented a proposal on March 5 to use opioid settlement dollars to fund short‑term bridge housing and wraparound services for adults with opioid use disorder.
Major Louie (law enforcement) described the program’s origin in the jail MAP (medication‑assisted treatment) program and emphasized reaching people "prior to incarceration," saying earlier jail efforts showed promising reductions in re‑incarceration for participants. "If we can reach these individuals prior to incarceration ... we stand a better chance of saving some folks," he said.
Janice Hurley, identified in the presentation as director of Davidson Medical Ministries and a DC Connect partner, outlined the Bridge House’s goals: short‑term safe housing (up to 90 days, typically 30–47 days), immediate access to MAT (including Vivitrol), peer support and community health worker services to transition people into long‑term treatment. Hurley said the opioid settlement committee previously approved $1,000,000 for the MAT program and that the Bridge House proposal is being designed to fit eligible opioid‑settlement uses.
Staff and presenters gave cost estimates: a first‑year project cost of about $1,270,000, an annual recurring cost of about $725,000 and a three‑year total near $2,720,000. The presentation said the initial target would be about 10 participants on site at a time, with turnover yielding a larger annual population served; presenters estimated a potential to impact 150–200 people a year if the model scaled.
Commissioners raised practical questions about ownership of property paid for with settlement funds, day‑to‑day operations (DC Connect and Davidson Medical Ministries were described as operational partners), whether the project needs additional nonprofit or grant funding to reduce county outlays, and whether the project should return to the opioid settlement committee for final recommendation. One commissioner suggested returning the proposal to committee for review of the budget and operational details; presenters and other commissioners supported further committee review and additional detail on staffing, outcomes tracking and sustainability.
No formal appropriation was approved on March 5; presenters said they would pursue other grants first and return with refined budgets and committee recommendations.