Advocacy Alert: Excellence in Recovery Housing Act Update

April 29, 2021

via NARR

On April 21, 2021, U.S. Representative Trone (MD), Representative Chu (CA), Representative Levin (CA), and Representative McKinley (WV) introduced the Excellence in Recovery Housing Act in Congress.

As previously noted in our advocacy alert in December 2020, this legislation would require the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), along with national accrediting entities and reputable providers of recovery housing services, to develop guidelines for states to promote the availability of high-quality recovery housing.

It would also:

• Provide grants to states to implement these guidelines and promote high-quality housing,
• Require the National Academy of Sciences to study the issue and make recommendations for increasing availability, improving data collection, and improving inclusivity for individuals who take medication-assisted treatment, and
• Create an interagency working group, chaired by SAMHSA and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), to increase collaboration among federal agencies in promoting the availability of high-quality recovery housing.

"America's addiction crisis continues unabated, made worse by the COVID pandemic," said Dave Sheridan, Executive Director of National Alliance for Recovery Residences. "Recovery housing has become an essential resource in our fight against this disease, yet we lack an adequate supply of quality recovery residences, and significant access barriers exist for our most vulnerable populations. This bill addresses several critical needs, including developing best practice guidelines for creating or expanding recovery housing systems, support for state efforts to implement those guidelines, a national assessment of recovery housing needs, and expanding the involvement of federal agencies with essential expertise and resources. These efforts are essential, and this bill will make them a reality. NARR enthusiastically supports the bill."

NARR has put together a sample letter of support, as well as a sample post to share on social media. We encourage you to use the sample letter to send to your representative in support of this act. You can find your representative by using BHAP's Find Your Representative tool on our website.

Questions? Concerns?

As always, we want your input.

A reminder that BHAP members get regular access to our advocate in Washington, DC. If you have any questions about BHAP's advocacy efforts, please contact us.