Lexington City Council Thursday voted to approve additional funding to Hope House from its opioid settlement funds.
Hope House has requested $15,000 to help construct a new roof over the patio and to assist with transportation costs for which previous funding was cut by the General Assembly following cuts to funding to the commonwealth from the federal government.
Council member David Sigler made the motion to approve the funding request and Vice Mayor Marylin Alexander provided the second. The motion passed in a 5-0 vote, with Council member John Driscoll not in attendance.
Lexington has received more than $89,000 in settlement funds since 2003 and has used it to help fund several initiatives in the area related to helping individuals impacted by opioid addiction. So far, the city has contributed $49,991 to Hope House, $23,080 to Rockbridge Recovery for purchase of a van and $13,174 to the newly founded Maury River Recovery Court. Currently, the city has $3,394 in unearmarked opioid settlement funds, and is anticipating receiving another $17,500 in the next fiscal year, not including recent settlements by Kroger and Purdue Pharma.
