Through North Star, Local Governments Invest More Than $2.3 Million in Opioid Settlement Funds to Expand Behavioral Health Care and Recovery Housing
Behavioral health and recovery needs don’t stop at city limits. That’s why Skagit County and the cities of Anacortes, Burlington, Mount Vernon, and Sedro-Woolley worked together through North Star to use opioid settlement funds for two shared priorities: improving behavioral health care and expanding recovery housing.
Together, they committed more than $2.3 million in local opioid settlement funding and successfully advocated for state funding to help build a coordinated system of care across the county, connecting people with support from crisis through recovery.
Skagit STAR Center
The STAR Center in Sedro-Woolley, which opened in August 2026, expands access to detox, residential treatment, and other behavioral health services for people experiencing substance use and mental health challenges. Recognizing the need, local jurisdictions came together to help fund the center with opioid settlement contributions:
- Skagit County: $1 million
- City of Anacortes: $259,000
- City of Burlington: $160,000
- City of Sedro-Woolley: $82,000
- City of Mount Vernon: $30,000 (in addition to $320,000 for recovery housing)
In addition to coordinating local funding, North Star secured $24 million in state funding for the facility’s construction and startup costs. Together, these investments expand the region’s capacity to provide essential behavioral health care.
Recovery Housing and Services
Treatment is only part of recovery. Stable housing and ongoing support give people a foundation for lasting recovery. To address needs across the continuum of care, North Star has expanded access to recovery housing and community-based services through state and local investments.
Skagit County and the City of Mount Vernon have jointly committed $820,000 in opioid settlement funding to expand recovery housing: $500,000 from the county and $320,000 from the city. The investment supports North Star’s goal of a coordinated, community-based system of care and stable, safe housing for everyone.
North Star is also grateful for the support of its state legislative delegation. The Washington State Department of Commerce awarded Recovery Café Skagit a $2.05 million grant toward the estimated $2.2 million purchase of its building at 1908 Riverside Drive in Mount Vernon. North Star’s collective advocacy helped secure this funding, which will help the Recovery Café Skagit sustain essential recovery services. The purchase is now underway.
A Regional Approach to Shared Challenges
“No one jurisdiction could have funded or accomplished any of these on its own. But together, we can do so much more for our communities,” said Commissioner Joe Burns.
These investments show what’s possible when jurisdictions work together. By identifying shared priorities, leveraging resources, and advocating for state support, North Star partners are strengthening services that benefit communities throughout Skagit County and building a system that helps people move from crisis toward stability.
To learn more about North Star, visit www.northstarskagit.org.
Background on Opioid Settlement Funds
Opioid settlement funds are payments, totaling more than $50 billion nationally, made by opioid manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacy chains to U.S. state, local, and tribal governments to address harms from the opioid crisis. These funds come from legal settlements reached since 2021. Settlement agreements require that the majority of funds be allocated to programs and strategies that directly address opioid misuse and its effects, such as treatment, prevention, harm reduction, and recovery support, helping communities recover and build long-term solutions.
