Danbury Agencies Tap Opioid Money 'For The Immediate Good': Alves

DANBURY, CT — A dozen Danbury agencies will be looking to put $170,000 in new funding to use to combat the opioid crisis.

The money is the first taste of the approximately $308,000 the city has received from nationwide opioid litigation settlement agreements with opioid distributors and manufacturers.

Last year, Mayor Roberto Alves formed an internal committee composed of leadership from the Mayor’s Office, the Health & Human Services Department, and the Finance Department to identify area agencies that provide substance abuse programs, support services, treatment and recovery services, and harm reduction resources to the Danbury community.

"The Health Department was critical, because they are on the front lines, and we really wanted to make sure that the money was used for the immediate good," Alves told Patch.

The Danbury Grassroots Academy, which provides its students with a structured after-school environment, will use its $10,000 award to teach drug prevention classes to youth. Funds awarded to Amos House will go towards providing transitional housing for homeless women and their children looking to take that step up from shelter life.

Alves called the money from the settlement "a woefully low amount," considering the "consequences of what this crisis has done to communities" nationwide.

"But this is money that the municipality has, and the money should be put to use on preventative work, as well as for the folks who are fighting this crisis every day in their lives."

The following agencies have been awarded:

• Amos House $10,000
• APEX $20,000
• ARC $10,000
• CIFC $10,000
• CT Community for Addiction Recovery $20,000
• CT Counseling Centers $20,000
• Family & Children's Aid $10,000
• Danbury Grassroots Academy $10,000
• Housing Authority of the City of Danbury $10,000
• MCCA $20,000
• Salvation Army $10,000
• Western CT Coalition $20,000

Further allocations will be announced as the city continues to assess community needs.