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HCA outlines progress implementing housing provisions from SB 5536 and CERS recommendations
Summary
HCA staff summarized four housing-related Recovery Support Services recommendations tied to Senate Bill 5536, including tax preferences, vouchers, operational grants and provider training; members pressed for clarity on who can apply for grants and how eviction policies intersect with accreditation standards.
Michelle, filling in for the CRSAC chair, opened the briefing by saying there were "4 primary recommendations related to housing in the substance use recovery services plan." She described recommendations 1, 3, 16 and 18 as the committee-approved items and said each recommendation contains multiple components that HCA will track and report on.
On Recommendation 1, Michelle said SB 5536 directed HCA to establish short-term housing vouchers and allocated implementation funds; HCA is also continuing grants to support operational costs for newly staffed recovery residences. She noted a proposed property-tax preference would apply where nonprofits own or lease properties used as recovery residences and where charges do not exceed operating costs. The presentation emphasized that training and accreditation work is underway: HCA and partners developed a "Cultural Competencies in Recovery Residences" training that was recorded and posted to YouTube on Dec. 6; HCA is required to report on training effectiveness beginning in 2027.
Committee members raised questions about how capital grants and voucher funding would be distributed and whether the funding flow would limit competition. Malika asked, "So only Walker can have money to do recovery housing?" Representative Lauren Davis and others responded that the capital funding in question is limited to residences accredited through one of two mechanisms (Walker or Oxford House) and argued many providers would still be eligible to compete if they meet accreditation requirements. Members also pressed HCA to clarify whether providers who discharge residents quickly after a lapse would be eligible for state funding and to supply more detail about eligibility and competitive processes.
The HCA update did not propose new policy rules at the meeting; it summarized statutory directives from SB 5536, implementation steps already taken, and reporting timelines. Michelle said implementation details and slides would be posted to the CRSAC SharePoint site and the CRSAC public web page.
