HARRISBURG – On Thursday, the departments of Drug and Alcohol Programs and Community & Economic Development announced the availability of more than $1 million in grant funding for recovery houses to provide safe housing for individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder (SUD).
“Access to stable housing is essential in an individual’s recovery journey,” said DDAP Secretary Jen Smith. “Part of our effort to ensure the availability of safe, supportive housing is our recent implementation of the recovery house licensure program.
“This funding will provide resources for recovery house owners to meet these licensure requirements, which will expand Pennsylvania’s network of licensed houses and provide more individuals with access to a safe recovery environment.”
The grants are designed to assist existing recovery house facilities with physical upgrades to comply with all federal, state and local laws and ordinances, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which is needed to receive a recovery house license through DDAP.
“DCED is excited to partner with DDAP to provide funds for safe housing opportunities for those recovering from substance use disorders,” said DCED Acting Secretary Neil Weaver. “We share in DDAP’s sentiment that safe and healthy environments will allow individuals to focus on their recovery.”
Grants up to $50,000 for a 12-month period beginning July 1, 2022, will be awarded to between 22 and 25 eligible applicants for health and safety upgrades including demolition, debris removal, rehabilitation improvements, environmental remediation costs, and construction and inspections to comply with DDAP’s regulations.
To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be able to provide individuals recovering from SUD with a safe and supportive drug and alcohol-free environment, which may include peer support and other recovery support services;
- Become registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State as a business to provide recovery housing for individuals recovering from SUD according to Act 59 of 2017 and any subsequent regulations thereafter;
- Become licensed by DDAP as a Drug and Alcohol Recovery House as defined in Section 2311-A of the Administrative Code of 1929 (71 P.S §?613.11) to be reimbursed under this funding opportunity; and
- Permit the use of FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder on the premises for residents utilizing medication.
Completed applications must be submitted via e-mail to RA-DAGrantsMgmt@pa.gov; the application period will remain open until the availability of funding is exhausted. Information on the grants and the application process can be found on the DDAP Web site or directed to RA-DAGrantsMgmt@pa.gov.
Funding for these grants is provided from the $1.2 million awarded to Pennsylvania through the SUPPORT Act from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
In December of 2021, DDAP announced the opening of its licensure program and is continually accepting applications for recovery houses seeking licensure.
Recovery houses can find more information regarding the licensure application process on the DDAP Web site. Drug and alcohol recovery houses are required to be licensed in order to receive referrals from state agencies or state-funded facilities or to receive federal or state funding to deliver recovery house services. DDAP will begin enforcing this licensing requirement on June 9, 2022.
For more information about the work the Wolf Administration is doing to combat the addiction crisis, visit ddap.pa.gov.