HONESDALE, PA — The Wayne County Commissioners pledged money from the opioid settlement for a women’s sober living facility.

At least $601,065 from the Wave 1 settlement will be used to renovate the county building at 650 1/2 Park St. in Honesdale and to guarantee future payments.

Formerly the Workforce Alliance office, the building will be part of the Recovery to Work program, a partnership between PA CareerLink and EDSI (Educational Data Systems, Inc.). The open office spaces will be transformed into private rooms during the renovation.

The facility will coordinate with Wayne County’s Drug and Alcohol Commission but will not be a county-run program.

“This is a major step forward for some of the recovery work services, so we are excited about that,” said Commissioner Jocelyn Cramer at the commissioners’ August 22 meeting.

The Wave 1 settlement in 2021, against pharmaceutical companies found liable for contributing to the opioid crisis, awarded Wayne County $2.2 million over 18 years. Some of the money has already been used to implement the Medically Assisted Treatment program at the Wayne County Correctional Facility. 

As part of the Wave 2 settlement, the county will receive an additional $1.5 million over 15 years to fight the opioid epidemic.

In other business

Emergency housing—Commissioners agreed to apply for an Emergency Solutions Grant for $231,722. The money would be used for rapid rehousing, homelessness prevention, and emergency shelter.

Employees honored—The commissioners recognized two employees, Maurice Williams and Zachary Mead, upon their one year of service in the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department.

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