The City of Portland has issued a request for grant applications in order to find partner organizations to launch a “Day Space” pilot program for homeless individuals, and to open an on-peninsula methadone treatment program.

Funding for the two initiatives comes from a nationwide class action lawsuit against opioid manufacturers.

The City of Portland joined that lawsuit in 2016, and has received approximately $1.38 million from the settlement as of September 2024.

Earlier this fall, the City Council voted to allocate those opioid settlement funds to support three opioid remediation programs: a syringe “buyback” program at the city’s needle exchange, a day space for unsheltered homeless individuals, and seed funding for a methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) program.

The city is seeking applications through January 24, 2025, from both nonprofit and for-profit organizations with a proven track record of successfully serving populations with substance use disorders.

For the day space shelter, the city states that they will be giving preference to applicants who have access to a suitable location — which the city is requiring to be on the Portland peninsula or within a ten minute walk of the peninsula.

At the proposed day space shelter, the city says it would be open seven days per week between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., would provide meals at least twice daily, have shower and laundry services, as well as onsite access to housing navigation and health services.

“A strong application will demonstrate the applicant’s history of successful
collaboration with community members and neighbors, as well as responsiveness to the concerns of the general public,” the city wrote in their request for applications.

“It is essential that the operator of the day space make every effort to mitigate the facility’s and its clients’ impact on nearby residents, businesses, and other members of the public,” they wrote.

The day space would open some time in 2025, the city wrote.

For the MMT program, the city indicates that they are open to funding a brick-and-mortar location or a mobile location, but also requires that it be on or near the peninsula.

Methadone is a controversial synthetic drug that is sometimes used as treatment for opioid addiction.

The methadone treatment program would serve those in Portland experiencing substance use disorders, with a particular emphasis on the city’s homeless population.

“The program must operate seven days a week, and be equipped with supplies for accurate dosing as well as adequate basic first aid and resuscitation equipment,” the city wrote.

The city is looking to fund the opening of the methadone treatment program by March 2025.