The city of Portland will use some of the opioid settlement funds distributed nationwide to pay for three programs to help fight opioid addiction in the city.

The city council voted 7-0 Monday night, with Mayor Mark Dion absent, to approve a proposal to spend $1.38 million on three programs: a syringe redemption program, a day space for the local homeless population and a methadone treatment program.

The funding comes from a national multibillion-dollar settlement with pharmaceutical companies and distributors. 

Councilor April Fournier, who chairs the council’s health, human services and public safety committee, introduced the proposal Monday, saying using this funding will help address opioid addiction issues in the city. 

“This is not something that we can change overnight, but what I’m really excited about, is that we do have this specific block of money to be able to move forward with these three different initiatives,” she said.

Most public commenters spoke in favor of the idea. William Higgins Jr., director of local advocacy group Homeless Advocacy for All, said he supported the use of the funds for the projects, saying, “We need a day space for individuals.”

Local resident Leo Hilton also supported the proposal.

“I think this is the remarkable kind of ingenuity and creative problem solving that we should be looking to our council for.” 

In the end, there was little discussion from the council before voting 7-0 to pass the proposal. Both the day space and methadone treatment programs will now be sent out with a request for proposals.