Substance Use Disorders are chronic conditions requiring intensive interventions and long-term care, but most treatments are time-limited and do not address structural barriers to recovery. One barrier is limited access to safe and stable housing. Recovery housing (e.g., recovery homes, sober living homes, and Oxford Houses) addresses this critical need by providing supportive living environments for people in recovery from substance use disorders. Numerous research studies have documented that recovery housing facilitates positive outcomes for residents through substance use recovery, decreased criminal justice involvement, and higher employment. However, housing costs in recovery residences are not presently covered by private or public health insurance, which presents barriers to individuals who need recovery housing. Lack of insurance coverage may also threaten the quality and sustainability of recovery housing at the provider level.
In partnership with the CLEAN Cause Foundation, researchers at The Addiction Research Institute will establish a consortium of experts across The University of Texas System to develop innovative funding models that facilitate recovery housing sustainability and address the financial gap created by insurance coverage ineligibility. The generation of this empirical research will also inform new policy initiatives that advocate for recovery housing organizations’ insurance coverage eligibility.