Washtenaw County has officially launched a Request for Proposals (RFP) for its first round of opioid settlement funding, which will release $2.25 million over a three-year period to support local efforts to prevent overdose, improve treatment access, and build a recovery-ready community.
Organizations, coalitions, and community-based groups are invited to apply for funding to support programs that align with one or more of the following categories:
- Prevention and Education
- Harm Reduction
- Treatment
- Recovery
- Increasing Systems Functioning
- Other uses as allowable under the national opioid settlement
Proposals are due by May 30, 2025 at 10:00 AM. Full details, including submission guidelines and application materials, are available at: washtenaw.org/2431/Open-Bids-Quotes
This RFP process is a direct outcome of the county’s 2024 Opioid Community Assessment, conducted in collaboration with Michigan State University and shaped by input from over 180 community members, including people with lived experience, incarcerated individuals, frontline service providers, and public health leaders. The assessment identified the most urgent needs and barriers in responding to substance use disorder (SUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD) in Washtenaw County. Now, those insights are shaping real investments.
Focus on what matters most for safety and recovery
That listening process made the importance of safe and supportive housing resoundingly clear.
One participant with lived experience summed it up simply, “Safe housing… that’s the most important thing.”
Another community member explained, “Once people get that stability, at least to know they’re in a safe place… then they can start focusing on, ‘Okay, I need to go to the doctor. I need to get a therapist. I need substance abuse treatment.’ It all links together.”
Participants also called out the persistent stigma around drug use and recovery—and the need for investment in harm reduction. “Not everyone is ready for abstinence,” one provider said. “Helping them stay safe, if that’s not on their agenda—that’s harm reduction.”
Others highlighted gaps in services for specific populations, including people receiving medication-assisted treatment (MAT), women with children, and Black and African American residents, particularly in Ypsilanti.
“Everything gets thrown to Ann Arbor,” said one long-time Ypsi resident. “Ypsilanti ain’t getting nothing… don’t forget about us.”
The RFP gives special consideration to proposals that directly support the following community-defined priorities:
- Develop strategies to increase safe and supportive housing and access to basic needs
- Expand harm reduction reach and accessibility across the county
- Reduce stigma through education and organizational training
- Support the expansion of Washtenaw County as a recovery-oriented community
- Enhance systems functioning and coordination
- Implement youth-focused prevention efforts
What to expect as the funding rolls out
A review committee will score proposals based on alignment with these priorities, the use of evidence-based practices, and community impact. Projects are expected to range between $50,000–$250,000 per year, with funding beginning in October 2025. An additional $300,000 will be reserved to respond to emergency or emerging needs between funding cycles.
This is just the beginning. Over the next 18 years, Washtenaw County will receive an estimated total of $16.3 million from national opioid settlement agreements.
For more information about the RFP process, visit washtenaw.org/2431/Open-Bids-Quotes or email: [email protected] with programmatic questions and [email protected] for purchasing/procedural inquiries.