Notice of FY2020 Allocations, Waivers, and Alternative Requirements for the Pilot Recovery Housing Program

This notice describes the program rules, waivers, and alternative requirements that apply to $25,000,000 for activities authorized under the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, entitled Pilot Program to Help Individuals in Recovery From a Substance Use Disorder Become Stably Housed, herein referred to as the Recovery Housing Program, or RHP. This pilot program authorizes assistance to grantees (states and the District of Columbia) to provide stable, temporary housing to individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder. The assistance is limited, per individual, to a period of not more than 2 years or until the individual secures permanent housing, whichever is earlier. The funds for fiscal year 2020 allocations described in this notice were made available by the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, which was signed by President Trump on December 20, 2019. The SUPPORT Act requires funds appropriated or made available for the RHP be treated as community development block grant (CDBG) funds under the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (HCD Act), unless otherwise provided or modified by waivers and alternative requirements. The SUPPORT Act also authorizes the Secretary to waive or specify alternative requirements to any provision of the HCD Act, except for requirements related to fair housing, nondiscrimination, labor standards, the environment, and requirements that activities benefit persons of low- and moderate-income. This notice describes applicable waivers and alternative requirements to the CDBG program requirements which have been found to be necessary to expedite or facilitate the use of RHP funds.