The Escambia County Opioid Abatement Funding Advisory Board on Nov. 4 voted to approve the committee'recommended allocations for the current notice of funding availability, subject to a condition that Reentry Alliance Pensacola (REAP) return with specified contract language and job descriptions before any contract is executed or funds are spent.

Staff told the board the committee reviewed 10 nonprofit applications (one for-profit was excluded) and recommended just over $1.7 million in awards against $1,851,096.15 remaining in the funding pool. "We really tried to be as fair and consistent as we could," staff said, describing a two‑hour committee review and a shared spreadsheet showing ask vs. recommendation.

Applicants gave brief presentations. Key points included:

- Waterfront Rescue Mission: Lexi Osborne said Waterfront submitted a first reimbursement request for about $301,000 covering two purchased houses and closing costs, with roughly $38,000 left to request for repairs, security and furnishings; a ribbon cutting was scheduled and the properties will house eight men.

- Brightbridge Ministries: Cheryl Hennen said renovations will add approximately 40 beds to an existing shelter (about 50 current beds), enabling some beds to be designated for people with opioid use disorder and to integrate medication‑assisted treatment and case management.

- EMS Core: Representative requested funding for two mobile clinics (ask about $541,066) to expand dosing and private space for the homeless population.

- Health and Hope: Larry Brooks described Narcan distribution, mobile outreach, language services and a new health and wellness center; board members asked how the center's broader services tie directly to opioid‑abatement goals; the organization said its prevention work and Narcan distribution directly support abatement aims and that it partners with hospitals and treatment providers.

- Hope Above Fear: Executive director Stephanie Shepherd described prevention programming (Choose Your Story), a diversion class (Better Without It) launched in partnership with Escambia County Public Schools, and youth-led outreach media.

- Lakeview (CATAIM): Patty Hyde reported the program hired a case manager and will expand in‑home and school‑based therapy; the new application requested transportation support and a part‑time support staff to handle referrals and coordination.

- Ministry Village: Representative requested support for an in‑house licensed substance‑abuse counselor and a case manager and for travel assistance for women who must go out of town for residential treatment; the counselor request was discussed in light of expected credentials and salary.

- Reentry Alliance Pensacola (REAP): Benny Webb proposed two transitional houses (men/women) with case managers and peer specialists and requested rental support for a year. Board members raised concerns about using abatement funds to subsidize housing if occupants might be charged rent or if the arrangement would reduce capacity for treatment‑focused placements. Staff and board requested job descriptions and a written commitment that occupants would not be charged rent while funded by this grant; REAP indicated some costs would be covered by the organization and that exact rental figures were an estimate.

- YMCA: Jennifer Barris outlined a start‑up request to bring the Community as Medicine program (coaching on movement, nutrition, mindfulness and connection) as a step‑down resource for CORE patients; Community Health said the program is intended as a supported transition for stabilized patients.

After extended discussion, a motion was made and seconded to approve the committee'recommended awards, with the following conditions: REAP must provide explicit contract language and job descriptions clarifying that occupants placed in REAP-funded transitional houses will not be charged rent while participating and that staff qualifications will meet board expectations; staff also noted no applicant can incur spending until a contract is executed. The board set a follow‑up meeting for Dec. 1 to finalize outstanding language. The motion passed by voice vote.

Provenance: Applicants'presentations begin at 00:12:56 in the record (Waterfront update) and the final conditional approval vote is recorded at 00:59:07.