Safe SHORES Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 1461
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Housing and Community Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-10: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2025-05-20T13:59:55Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Safe and Secure Housing for Opioid Recovery and Enduring Stability Act of 2025 (Safe SHORES Act of 2025) aims to reauthorize and improve a pilot program that provides funding for temporary housing to help individuals recovering from substance use disorders (such as opioid addiction) achieve stable housing. This builds on efforts to support recovery by addressing housing instability, which can hinder long-term sobriety.
Key Provisions
- Funding Authorization: Reauthorizes grants through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for states to acquire, rehabilitate, or construct recovery housing, with funding available from fiscal years 2026 through 2030 and a minimum annual allocation of $50 million (or more if deemed necessary).
- Grant Allocation: Funds are distributed to states based on recent data about opioid-related overdoses and substance use disorder treatment admissions, using the five most recent calendar years for calculations.
- Fund Usage Rules: States must obligate (commit to spending) all awarded funds within five years. Up to 1% of funds can be used to buy furniture for the housing facilities.
- Monitoring and Oversight: HUD will track grants using its Integrated Disbursement and Information System database to ensure proper use.
- Best Practices Encouragement: States are urged to prioritize grants to facilities that:
- Offer technical help to grantees for efficient project timelines, including navigating local zoning rules.
- Provide workforce development (job training) and financial literacy programs for residents.
- Follow up with former residents to support ongoing recovery.
- Meet state accreditation standards for facilities.
- Secure additional funding from private or public sources.
- Reporting Requirements: HUD must submit an annual report to Congress (starting one year after enactment) and make it public, covering:
- Summary of fund uses, including new housing projects.
- Updates on prior projects.
- Statistics on residents (e.g., number housed, stay durations, demographics, substance use conditions, and transition rates to permanent housing).
- Effective strategies for housing development and resident success.
- Plans for collaboration between HUD, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expand recovery housing.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends Section 8071 of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (2018), which originally authorized the program from 2019 to 2023:
- Extends the program by seven years (to 2030) and sets a $50 million annual funding floor, increasing commitment beyond the original "as necessary" amount.
- Updates overdose and treatment data from fixed years (2013–2017) to the five most recent years, making allocations more current and responsive to evolving substance use trends.
- Relaxes fund obligation timelines: Previously, at least 30% had to be committed within one year; now, all funds must be obligated within five years for more flexible implementation.
- Introduces new allowances for furniture purchases (up to 1% of funds), which were not previously specified.
- Adds entirely new requirements for database monitoring, best practice priorities, and detailed annual reporting, enhancing transparency and accountability not present in the original law.
- Updates references to the enactment date to align with this new act.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Could improve access to supportive housing for people recovering from substance use disorders, potentially leading to better recovery outcomes, reduced homelessness, and higher rates of transitioning to permanent housing. This may particularly benefit those affected by the opioid crisis in high-need areas.
- On Government Agencies: Increases administrative duties for HUD (e.g., database tracking and annual reports) and promotes interagency coordination with HHS (for health services) and USDA (for rural housing needs), potentially streamlining federal support for recovery programs. States gain more flexibility in fund use but face pressure to adopt best practices.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic housing and substance use recovery programs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Individuals in Recovery: Primary beneficiaries, gaining access to stable, temporary housing tailored to substance use disorder needs.
- States and Local Governments: Receive and distribute grants; must manage obligations, prioritize projects, and comply with reporting.
- Recovery Housing Organizations and Facilities: Eligible for funding to build or improve housing; incentivized to offer training, follow-ups, and accreditation to secure grants.
- Federal Agencies: HUD (lead on funding and oversight), HHS (health and recovery support), and USDA (rural development collaboration).
- Communities in High-Need Areas: Particularly those with elevated opioid overdose rates, seeing expanded local housing options.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal support for substance use recovery under existing public health and housing authorities (e.g., via HUD's community development block grants), without creating new entitlements. The five-year obligation window provides practical flexibility while maintaining fiscal oversight to prevent waste.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power under Article I, Section 8, to promote general welfare through targeted housing aid. No apparent conflicts with federalism, as it involves voluntary state grants rather than mandates.
- Political: Reinforces bipartisan efforts (introduced by Sens. Coons and Capito) to combat the opioid epidemic, emphasizing accountability through reporting to build public trust. Could influence future funding debates by tying allocations to measurable outcomes like resident success rates, potentially setting precedents for data-driven social programs.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Cosponsors (1)
Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-10: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- 2025-04-10: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Safe and Secure Housing for Opioid Recovery and Enduring Stability Act of 2025 — issued 2025-04-10 — PDF (6 pages)