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Town Council approves opioid-settlement grants for prevention and short-term recovery housing
Summary
Council approved $15,000 for the Everyone’s an Asset-Builder prevention program and funded the Redemption Housing Hope Fund in three $25,000 tranches to support short-term housing for New Milford residents in recovery.
The New Milford Town Council on March 23 approved two opioid-settlement expenditures aimed at prevention and recovery supports.
First, the council voted unanimously to spend $15,000 to integrate Everyone's an Asset‑Builder (EAB), an evidence‑based youth prevention program, into school and community settings. Amy Bethge, Director of Health, told the council the program will be offered six times per school year at locations to be determined and will include caregiver sessions and annual evaluations.
Second, the council approved funding the Redemption Housing Hope Fund in three $25,000 tranches (total $75,000) to provide short‑term housing assistance for New Milford residents seeking recovery. Tony Morrissey, who addressed the council during public comment, said the proposal was deeply personal: "7,165 days ago I lost my son to a drug overdose," he said, arguing that short‑term housing could have helped. The Health Department will administer the fund and Social Services will help qualify recipients; council members confirmed the program is intended for New Milford residents.
Council members asked for evidence of program effectiveness; speakers referenced success stories and cited a figure presented by a commenter that recovery programs generate economic savings, but no independent audit or long-term evaluation results were provided during the meeting. The council approved both items unanimously.
Next steps include program rollout planning by the Health Department and coordination with Social Services for applicant qualification and case tracking.
