Recovery Housing Brief Summary

Summary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Recovery Housing Policy Brief

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Purpose of Brief

This brief aims to help communities offer effective housing options for people experiencing homelessness, especially those with substance use disorders. HUD funds many projects to support these individuals. This brief provides guidance on how to run Recovery Housing programs, which focus on sobriety and peer support.

What is Sober Living and Recovery R\Housing? 

HUD is defining Recovery Housing as housing in an abstinence-focused and peer-supported community for people recovering from substance use issues. Typically, residents choose to actively participate together in community activities focused on supporting recovery.  Recovery Housing provides a supportive community for people recovering from substance use issues. It emphasizes abstinence and peer support, where residents participate in community activities to aid their recovery. Many staff members are also in recovery, which helps support the residents and offers employment opportunities.

Why is Having Staff in Recovery a Good Thing?

Many Recovery Housing programs include a high percentage of staff in all areas of the organization that are in recovery themselves. Not only does this type of staffing advance the goals of the program through peer support, but it provides program participants, in some cases, with an opportunity to become employed in a mission-oriented work environment. This creates an environment that benefits both the organization and the individual program participants.

Key Principles of Recovery Housing

1. Health: Support for overcoming addiction and making healthy choices.
2. Home: Providing a stable and safe living environment.
3. Purpose: Encouraging meaningful activities like jobs or volunteering.
4. Community: Building relationships and social networks for support.

Operational Expectations

Programs should:

• Be low-barrier and evidence-based.
• Focus on long-term housing stability.
• Respect residents' privacy and dignity.
• Offer autonomy and independence.
• Receive appropriate accreditation.
• Partner with mainstream resources for support services.
• Ensure quality and performance with measurable outcomes.

Transitional vs. Permanent Supportive Housing

• Transitional Housing: Short-term, with a maximum stay of 24 months, offering intensive supports and services.
• Permanent Supportive Housing: Long-term, with ongoing support services, focusing on housing retention and sustained recovery.

Combining Housing First and Recovery Housing

HUD encourages a system-wide Housing First approach, which means providing housing without barriers and supporting people at all stages of recovery. Recovery Housing should be one of the options available to those who choose it, but it shouldn't be the only option.

Program Participation

• Entry should be voluntary (except when court-ordered).
• Relapse should not automatically lead to eviction.
• Programs should help residents move to other housing options if needed.

Outcomes

Programs should aim for stable housing, increased income, and sustained recovery. Communities should balance the need for Recovery Housing with other types of housing to meet various needs.