Bill > AB255

This bill establishes the Supportive-Recovery Residence Program to address housing and substance use challenges among homeless populations in California. The legislation creates a framework for supportive-recovery residences (SRRs) that emphasize abstinence while maintaining core Housing First principles, such as low-barrier entry and harm reduction. Specifically, the bill requires that at least 90% of program funds be used for housing or housing-based services using a harm-reduction model, and mandates that the Department of Housing and Community Development adopt national standards for these residences. The bill prohibits automatic eviction for relapse and requires that if a tenant is at risk of eviction or discharged, the residence must secure a new permanent housing placement. It also establishes a certification process for SRRs, with a potential fee of up to $1,000, and creates a Supportive-Recovery Residence Program Fund to support these activities. The legislation is driven by alarming statistics, including California's large homeless population (187,084 individuals as of 2024) and a 488% increase in overdose deaths among homeless individuals between 2010 and 2020, and aims to provide a compassionate, structured approach to housing and recovery for people struggling with substance use disorders.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services, Housing and Urban Affairs

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB255