CA AB 2893

Title: The Shared Recovery Housing Residency Program.
Author: Christopher M. Ward

Summary
AB 2893, as amended, Ward. The Shared Recovery Housing Residency Program. Existing law establishes the California Interagency Council on Homelessness to oversee the implementation of Housing First guidelines and regulations, and, among other things, identify resources, benefits, and services that can be accessed to prevent and end homelessness in California. Existing law requires a state agency or department that funds, implements, or administers a state program that provides housing or housing-related services to people experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness to revise or adopt guidelines and regulations to include enumerated Housing First policies. Existing law specifies the core components of Housing First, including services that are informed by a harm-reduction philosophy that recognizes drug and alcohol use and addiction as a part of tenants’ lives and where tenants are engaged in nonjudgmental communication regarding drug and alcohol use.This bill would authorize state programs to fund recovery housing, as defined, that emphasize abstinence under these provisions as long as the state program meets specified criteria, including using at least 75% of its funds in each county for housing or housing-based services using a harm-reduction model. The bill would specify requirements for applicants seeking funds under these programs and would require the state to perform periodic monitoring of select recovery housing programs to ensure that the recovery housing meets certain requirements, including that core outcomes of the recovery housing emphasize long-term housing stability and minimize returns to homelessness. The bill would also prohibit eviction on the basis of relapse, as specified. Existing law requires the State Department of Health Care Services to license and regulate facilities that provide residential nonmedical services to adults who are recovering from problems related to alcohol, drug, or alcohol and drug misuse or abuse, and who need alcohol, drug, or alcohol and drug recovery treatment or detoxification services. Existing law also requires the department to certify alcohol and other drug treatment recovery services, as specified.This bill would require the department to oversee certification of recovery houses that serve individuals experiencing, or who are at risk of experiencing, homelessness or who are experiencing serious mental illness or substance use disorders with a housing first model, as defined. The bill would require the department to establish criteria for certification of recovery houses in order to allow a recovery house to receive referrals from the department as available housing for persons experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness or mental health issues. The bill would prohibit recovery houses from providing any licensed services onsite, including, but not limited to, incidental medical services. The bill would authorize the department to charge a fee for certification of recovery houses in an amount not to exceed the reasonable cost of administering the program, not to exceed $1,000, and would establish the Shared Recovery Housing Residency Program Fund for collection of the fee.

Status
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

Bill Documents
CA AB 2893 - 04/17/24 - Amended Assembly
04/17/24 - CA AB 2893 (04/17/24 - Amended Assembly)