People experiencing homelessness are at increased risk of opioid overdose and face additional barriersto accessing substance use treatment and supports compared to the general population. Improving access to treatment and stable housing opportunities for this population requires resource alignmentacross federal, state, and local sources and across the housing capital, rental assistance, and services sectors. Chronic (and increasing) shortages in affordable housing and behavioral health services also contribute to challenges.
To address this gap, states are pursuing braided funding approaches, including leveraging opioid settlement funds, to strategically invest in an array of housing and wraparound services options. Coordinated efforts to advance a comprehensive strategy for housing across state agencies and with local partners can ultimately contribute to a reduction in overdoses and use of costly acute care servicesfor people with substance/opioid use disorder. The following is an overview of how states can invest opioid settlement dollars across different types of housing supports for people with substance use disorders (SUD) and opioid use disorders (OUD), along with specific state examples. Read more