The Safe SHORES Act of 2025 reauthorizes and expands the federal program that supports housing for people in recovery from substance use disorders. It extends the program's authorization through 2030, increases the funding baseline to at least $50 million, and updates how past funding is measured and reported. The bill also adds new implementation details, such as allowing states to spend a small share on furniture for temporary recovery housing, mandates ongoing monitoring through HUD’s systems, and requires annual reporting to Congress with data on outcomes and residents. Additionally, it encourages best practices—like workforce development, financial literacy, and strong post-residency follow-up—and promotes coordination with other federal agencies (Health and Human Services and Agriculture) to help expand effective recovery housing. In short, the bill aims to stabilize housing for individuals in recovery, improve program oversight and outcomes, and foster broader federal collaboration to support sustainable recovery housing development and resident success.
Key Points
- 1Reauthorization and funding: Extends the recovery housing pilot program through 2030 and sets a minimum funding level of at least $50 million, replacing prior language that capped or constrained funding.
- 2Funding measurement and program timing: Updates how past grant history is calculated (uses the five most recent calendar years) and extends the time frame for expending funds to five years, rather than shorter current periods.
- 3Furniture costs: Allows states receiving funds to spend up to 1% of awarded amounts on furniture for temporary recovery housing, providing for a modest but tangible improvement to housing readiness.
- 4Monitoring and best practices: Requires HUD to monitor grants via its Integrated Disbursement and Information System (IDIS) and encourages states to provide technical assistance, prioritize projects with workforce development and financial literacy, ensure post-residency follow-up, support accreditation, and seek leverage from additional funding.
- 5Reporting and interagency coordination: Mandates annual public reports to Congress detailing fund use, project updates, resident statistics (demographics, duration of stays, recovery outcomes), and strategies for better results, plus a plan for coordinating with HHS and USDA to promote effective recovery housing.