DSHA’s Recovery Housing Pilot Program: Funding Opportunity through Block Grants
Dover, Del. – July 17, 2023: The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) has recently announced that it has been awarded $2.6 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer the Recovery Housing Program (RHP) Action Plan. The RHP is designed to offer stable and temporary housing for up to two years to individuals in recovery from substance use disorders. DSHA will provide funding for the construction or rehabilitation of recovery houses, while the Department of Health and Social Services and the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health will fund recovery services.
Applications for the RHP grant must be submitted by August 11 at 4:00 p.m. Eligible applicants for the grant are limited to 501(c)(3) nonprofit developers; however, partnerships with other nonprofit and for-profit organizations are encouraged. Interested applicants are advised to contact DSHA to schedule a pre-application meeting ([email protected]). Grant awards are anticipated to be announced in October.
Cindy Deakyne, DSHA Housing Project Manager, stated, “Recovery Housing is an essential part of the substance use disorder treatment and recovery continuum of care. It provides safe, healthy, and substance-free living environments centered on peer support and a connection to services that promote long-term recovery, including mutual support groups and recovery services to reduce isolation and relapse. We are proud to oversee this important program.”
Delaware has been identified by HUD as one of the states to receive Block Grant funding for the RHP pilot program, as it has one of the highest rates per capita of substance addiction in the United States. In the first round of funding, DSHA received $2.2 million. Last year, DSHA awarded grants to two nonprofit organizations to acquire and renovate recovery houses. Impact Life Inc. established Delaware’s first residential recovery farm in Seaford, providing housing for ten women and children, while atTAcK Addiction Foundation now operates a recovery house for ten men in Harbeson.
With the most recent round of funding, DSHA expects to grant funds for two or three additional Recovery Houses in Delaware. While the existing houses are located in Sussex County, DSHA welcomes applicants interested in establishing recovery houses in any of the state’s three counties.
Eugene Young, Jr., Director of DSHA, emphasized the need for collaborative efforts in addressing substance abuse, stating, “Addressing substance abuse in our community will take innovative and effective collaborations. We look forward to working with our state agency partners, local nonprofits, and the community to expand the number of recovery houses in the state and help more residents embark on the road to a new life.”
Recently, the General Assembly passed HS1 for HB114, which establishes a voluntary certification process for recovery homes in Delaware. This legislation offers training and technical assistance to recovery residence operators and staff while facilitating the data collection necessary to study the effectiveness of Delaware’s recovery residences.
For more information about the RHP grant and to submit an application, interested parties can visit the following website: http://www.destatehousing.com/Landlords/dv_cdbg.php.
About Delaware State Housing Authority:
Established in 1968, the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) is dedicated to providing quality, affordable housing opportunities, and appropriate supportive services to low- and moderate-income Delawareans. Alongside its role as the state’s Housing Finance Agency, DSHA also serves as a Public Housing Authority in Kent and Sussex County and a Community Development and Planning Agency. For further information about the Delaware State Housing Authority, please contact (302) 739-4263 or visit the official website: www.destatehousing.com.
