Fellowship Hall seeks $600,000 from opioid settlement for HVAC, roof and parking repairs

Representative Hollins introduced Fellowship Hall's request for capital improvements during the Feb. 2 subcommittee meeting. David Vasquez, operations manager for Fellowship Hall, described the facility at 2060 South Windsor in Salt Lake City as a longstanding recovery center that welcomes thousands of visits yearly and provides meeting space, employment opportunities, and sober-support services.

Vasquez said Fellowship Hall needs replacement of central air units (in place since 1985), a new roof (the facility has required multiple repairs annually), repaving and drainage for its large parking lot, and upgrades to kitchen refrigeration that supports on-site employment for people in recovery. He asked the committee for $600,000 from the opioid settlement fund to cover these capital needs and said the organization hires people in recovery and provides services that reduce downstream costs to emergency services and social supports.

Travis Wood, a lobbyist who works with substance-use and mental-health providers, told the committee Fellowship Hall is the state’s longest-running 12-step facility and that the opioid settlement fund is an appropriate source for sober-living and recovery supports. Committee members thanked presenters and offered positive comments; no immediate funding decision was taken on Feb. 2.

The presenters noted the project is composed of four discrete construction elements that can be bid and scaled, and they invited committee members to visit the facility for a site tour.