Reauthorizes and modifies the Recovery Housing Program to prioritize funding for states with the greatest need based on unemployment, labor force participation, overdose deaths, and homelessness rates, while also emphasizing coordination and support services.
Suzanne Bonamici
Representative
OR-1
The "START Housing Act of 2025" reauthorizes and extends the Recovery Housing Program through 2031, prioritizing funding for states with the greatest need based on unemployment, labor force participation, drug overdose deaths, and unsheltered homelessness rates. It requires states to supplement existing funding and consult with relevant agencies to support individuals in stable housing, and allows HUD to use up to 2% of funds for technical assistance and best practices.
START Housing Act of 2025 Reauthorized: Funds to Aid Recovery Housing Extended Through 2031
The "Supporting Transition And Recovery Through Housing Act of 2025," or START Housing Act, has been greenlit, extending a crucial lifeline for folks getting back on their feet after battling substance abuse. This bill reauthorizes the Recovery Housing Program, originally part of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, pushing its funding from 2026 through 2031. It's all about giving people in recovery a stable place to call home while they rebuild their lives.
Rehab and Roofs: Targeting States in Need
This isn't just about throwing money at the problem. The START Housing Act gets specific, prioritizing states that have been hit hardest. Funding will flow to states with the highest average unemployment and lowest labor force participation rates between 2019 and 2023 (using Bureau of Labor Statistics data). It also targets areas with the highest age-adjusted drug overdose death rates (that's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data) and the highest rates of unsheltered homelessness (HUD's point-in-time count data). Basically, the money goes where the need is most urgent.
Real-World Rollout: From Recovery to Long-Term Stability
Imagine a construction worker who's completed rehab but is struggling to find a stable living situation. Or a young retail employee trying to stay clean but facing homelessness. This bill aims to help people like them. States are required to use these funds to add to, not replace, existing state or local money for housing and recovery services. Think of it as extra support, not a substitution.
States also have to team up with local groups (continuums of care and public housing agencies) to figure out the best way to use the funds. It's about making sure people have a safe place to land and a plan to transition to other housing options when their time in the program is up. The goal is to avoid a revolving door of instability.
Behind the Scenes: Tech Support and Best Practices
Up to 2% of the funds can be used for "technical assistance." This means the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) can help states and organizations implement the program effectively. They'll be publishing best practices and providing outreach to make sure everyone knows how to access the resources. It's like having a helpline and a guidebook to make sure the program runs smoothly. (SEC. 2)
This bill is a targeted approach to a serious problem. It recognizes that recovery isn't just about treatment – it's about having a stable foundation to build a new life. By focusing on housing and coordinating efforts across different levels of government, the START Housing Act aims to make a real difference in the lives of people working hard to overcome addiction.