Individuals Experiencing Homelessness and Diagnosed with Opioid Disorder Could Access Affordable Housing

Monday, January 15th, 2024 -- 9:01 AM

(Margaret Faust, Wisconsin Public Radio) People who are experiencing homelessness and were diagnosed with opioid use disorder have the potential for increased access to affordable, safe and stable housing through a new round of grants.

According to Margaret Faust with Wisconsin Public Radio, seven agencies across the state were awarded more than $750,000 in grant funding through the Recovery Voucher Program, a partnership between the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Wisconsin Department of Administration that was created in 2022.

Through the program, organizations cover the monthly rent for people to live in recovery residences. To be eligible, people must be experiencing homelessness and also have an opioid use disorder diagnosis or have been receiving treatment within the past 12 months and who otherwise would struggle to find housing.

Lakeshore Community Action Program of Wisconsin, based in Manitowoc, received the grant for the second year. Colleen Homb, the executive director, said last year the community action agency she oversees helped 25 people pay rent at recovery residences for a collective 137 months. She anticipates reaching similar numbers in the upcoming year by using a housing first philosophy.

The grant money can be used to pay the rent of people living in one of the 134 DHS recognized recovery residences. Grant recipients said costs range from $350 to $750 per bed per month. Grant money can also cover limited client transportation, case management and administrative costs.

New this year, the program will be open to families as well as individuals. DHS defines financial stability, which includes safe and stable housing, as one of the five social determinants of health. Paul Krupski, director of opioid initiatives at DHS, said there needs to be an increased focus on housing.

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