Owen County commissioners pledge $150,000 in opioid-settlement funds to revive women’s recovery housing

The Owen County Board of Commissioners voted to allocate $150,000 in opioid-settlement funds to support a proposed women’s recovery residence run under the oversight of the Drug Alcohol Resource Team (DART).

Deputy Bill Brown, who said “My name is Bill Brown. I’m an Owen County deputy sheriff” and who sits on DART, told commissioners that the group has identified a ready-to-use building and a planning team and requested start-up funding to hire a director and two support staff, furnish the facility and cover operating costs while DART works toward certification and a 501(c)(3). Brown told the board the program would be modeled on the former Dotty’s Refuge and said, “The opioid settlement money that we’re asking for is $150,000.”

Why it matters: DART presented county data and lived-experience testimony illustrating demand: staff said 141 women were arrested on drug-related charges in the past five years and frequently had no safe place to go upon release. Commissioners and local partners framed the proposal as both a public-safety and a public-health investment intended to reduce recidivism and restore families.

Scope and plan: DART proposed a two-year funding commitment to hire a director ($50,000/year), a coordinator ($35,000/year) and a house manager ($25,000/year), plus an estimated $40,000 for furnishing and initial operating costs. Janet Ruml of the Owen County Community Foundation agreed to serve as a temporary fiduciary to place an immediate hire on payroll and to assist with establishing the program’s nonprofit status. Local partners including Stability First and Centerstone were cited as technical partners; Ashley Collins of Centerstone said, “There’s a lot of other counties that have used the opioid funds for recovery housing like this,” and emphasized the need for certification and sustainability planning.

Board action and conditions: Commissioner Sam moved to fund the request and the board approved the allocation. Commissioners said they expect DART to provide periodic updates on hiring, policy development and progress toward reimbursement or additional funding sources; they also encouraged DART to pursue billing, grant and council funding where allowed. Officials noted constraints on how opioid-settlement dollars may be used and asked staff to ensure any spending complies with restrictions.

Next steps: DART will hire a director under the foundation’s payroll, finalize lease arrangements for the donated building, begin policies and procurement, and return to commissioners with regular updates. Commissioners said the award will be re-evaluated at the end of the two-year commitment.