I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 5137 

To reauthorize and expand the pilot program to help individuals in recovery 

from a substance use disorder become stably housed, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

AUGUST 4, 2023 

Ms. BONAMICI (for herself and Mr. FITZPATRICK) introduced the following 

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services 

A BILL 

To reauthorize and expand the pilot program to help individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder become 

stably housed, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Supporting Transition 

5 And Recovery Through Housing Act of 2023’’ or the 

6 ‘‘START Housing Act of 2023’’. 

7 SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF RECOVERY HOUSING PRO8 GRAM. 

9 Section 8071 of the SUPPORT for Patients and 

10 Communities Act (42 U.S.C. 5301 note) is amended— 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•HR 5137 IH

1 (1) in subsection (a)— 

2 (A) by striking ‘‘2019 through 2023’’ and 

3 inserting ‘‘2024 through 2029’’; 

4 (B) by striking ‘‘for a period of not more 

5 than 2 years or’’; and 

6 (C) by striking ‘‘, whichever is earlier’’; 

7 (2) in subsection (b)— 

8 (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘, act9 ing through the Office of Community Planning 

10 and Development in consultation with the Of11 fice of Special Needs Assistance,’’ before ‘‘not 

12 later than’’; and 

13 (B) in paragraph (2)— 

14 (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 

15 ‘‘allocated to’’ and inserting ‘‘prioritized 

16 for’’; and 

17 (ii) by striking subparagraph (B) and 

18 inserting the following new subparagraph: 

19 ‘‘(B) PRIORITY.—Among the States, pri20 ority shall be given to States with the greatest 

21 need, as such need is determined by the Sec22 retary based on the following factors: 

23 ‘‘(i) The highest average rates of un24 employment based on data provided by the 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•HR 5137 IH

1 Bureau of Labor Statistics for calendar 

2 years 2019 through 2023. 

3 ‘‘(ii) The lowest average labor force 

4 participation rates based on data provided 

5 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for cal6 endar years 2019 through 2023. 

7 ‘‘(iii) The highest age-adjusted rates 

8 of drug overdose deaths based on data 

9 from the Centers for Disease Control and 

10 Prevention. 

11 ‘‘(iv) The highest rates of unsheltered 

12 homelessness as determined by the most 

13 recent annual point-in-time count of per14 sons experiencing homelessness required by 

15 the Secretary of Housing and Urban De16 velopment under title IV of the McKinney17 Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 

18 11360 et seq.).’’; 

19 (3) in subsection (c)— 

20 (A) in paragraph (2)— 

21 (i) by inserting ‘‘, low-barrier’’ after 

22 ‘‘effective’’; and 

23 (ii) by inserting before the period at 

24 the end the following: ‘‘with an expectation 

25 that persons participating in the program 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
4 

•HR 5137 IH

1 have access to stable housing upon exiting 

2 the program’’; and 

3 (B) by adding at the end the following new 

4 paragraphs: 

5 ‘‘(4) SUPPLEMENT NOT SUPPLANT.—As a con6 dition of receiving funds under this section, a State 

7 shall use such funds received under this section only 

8 to supplement the level of State or local funds that 

9 would, in the absence of the receipt of funds under 

10 this section, be made available for related housing 

11 and recovery services. 

12 ‘‘(5) CONSULTATION.—Each State that receives 

13 amounts pursuant to this section shall consult with 

14 continuums of care and public housing agencies to 

15 assess needs for implementing funds and developing 

16 a plan to support individuals receiving stable hous17 ing in connection with funding under this section 

18 with transfer to other housing at the end of the indi19 viduals’ eligibility.’’; and 

20 (4) by striking subsection (f) and inserting the 

21 following new subsection: 

22 ‘‘(f) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may 

23 use not more than 2 percent of the funds made available 

24 under this section for technical assistance, to publish best 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
5 

•HR 5137 IH

1 practices, and to conduct outreach to grantees or poten2 tially eligible participants.’’. 

Æ 


pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB