Baker County awards first opioid settlement grant, funds housing and services

Baker County moved to allocate local opioid settlement dollars when commissioners voted to award $25,000 to Safe Families for Children of Eastern Oregon on Wednesday, December 17. The nonprofit, based at the Northeast Oregon Compassion Center and serving Baker and Union counties, was the lone applicant in the initial grant round and will use the funds for housing and wraparound services for people with opioid use disorder.

Commissioner Michelle Kaseberg, one of three members of the review committee, said the committee was "very impressed" with the nonprofit's application. The other committee members are Kim Nelson, a nurse at the Baker County Health Department, and Reed Wagstaff. Commission chairman Shane Alderson and commissioner Christina Witham supported the award. "It looks super," Alderson said. "It was very well put together," Witham said.

The county announced the grant program earlier this fall with awards available up to $25,000 and set the initial application deadline for Nov. 25. Commissioners voted by a 3 to 0 margin to approve the funding, marking the first distribution from Baker County's portion of a statewide settlement with opioid manufacturers. Baker County is expected to receive around $1 million over the next decade from Oregon's settlement.

Safe Families will direct the grant toward permanent and transitional housing and complementary services aimed at stabilizing adults and youth in treatment. The nonprofit plans to help homeless youth who are struggling with or at risk of opioid addiction, and to provide assistance with finances, education, resume writing, parenting skills, conflict resolution and other life skills that support recovery and retention in treatment.

County officials say the grant complements a separate allocation of $175,000 per year to fund a community service deputy in the Baker County Sheriff’s Office. Gabe Maldonado occupies that position and meets with students at schools countywide as part of a prevention campaign about the dangers of opioid abuse. Local advocates say combining prevention, outreach and housing support is essential to reduce harm and keep families intact.

The initial grant award establishes a local pathway for settlement funds to reach community providers. Officials expect future application rounds to allocate additional dollars to services and programs that address treatment, prevention and long term recovery needs in Baker County.