House Passes Opioid Legislation that Includes Housing Pilot Program

The House recently passed a package of opioid legislation (H.R. 6) that includes a new pilot program to provide housing assistance to individuals recovering from substance-use disorders. The bill would authorize Congress to provide funding for the pilot through the Community Development Block Grant program. HUD would distribute the funds based on a formula that prioritizes states with high rates of overdose deaths and, to a lesser extent, high rates of unemployment and low rates of work participation. Program participants would receive housing assistance for up to two years or until permanent housing assistance is available. The House approved the bill by a vote of 393-8.

The bill does not include the “Transitional Housing for Recovery in Viable Environments Demonstration Program (THRIVE) Act” (HR 5735). The THRIVE Act, introduced by Representative Andy Barr (R-KY), would divert 10,000 vouchers, or $83 million, away from the Housing Choice Voucher program to pay for transitional recovery housing for people with substance-use disorders.