Yamhill County weighs detox house purchase and regional bed contribution for opioid settlement funds

Yamhill County health officials on June 11 outlined two primary options for spending opioid settlement money: purchasing or renovating a county-owned house to operate a high‑intensity outpatient detox facility for men or contributing funds to secure beds at a regional recovery campus.

Lindsey Manfrin, speaking for Yamhill County Health and Human Services, described a proposal to buy or remodel an existing county property for up to $850,000 to serve at least five men in a house-style facility, with average stays of about nine months. Manfrin said apartments were less suitable because the program’s rehabilitation goals emphasize conflict resolution and homemaking skills, which benefit from a shared-house setting.

As an alternative, Manfrin proposed a one-time contribution of $250,000 to secure one detox bed and one residential bed at the Clackamas Recovery Campus, a facility under construction and expected to open in 2027, that would dedicate those beds to Yamhill County clients.

County Administrator Ken Huffer told the Board the county currently has $2,100,000 available in its Opioid Settlement fund. The Board directed staff to examine whether apartments owned by the Sheridan Housing Authority could be repurposed for the program and to prepare cost estimates comparing new construction versus purchase or remodel of county property. The Board also expressed interest in a separate education option and asked that the Willamette Education Service District present a recovery high school proposition at a future session.

No final spending decision was made at the meeting; the Board reached consensus to have staff return with additional feasibility and cost information before committing funds.