http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/homeless-winter-s445.jpgRecovery Voucher Program to provide $750,000 for safe housing and shelter.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced seven agencies across the state will receive more than $750,000 in grant funding through the Recovery Voucher Program to provide access to affordable, safe, and stable housing in recovery residences for individuals and their families who are experiencing homelessness and have been diagnosed with opioid use disorder (OUD).

The Recovery Voucher Program was developed in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) in 2022. The effort is supported by a portion of Wisconsin’s McKinsey & Company Opioid Settlement Funds, which provided the state with $11 million to address the effects of the opioid epidemic. Created with an initial $2 million investment, the Recovery Voucher Program served more than 150 people in its first year.

“Wisconsinites and their families in every corner of our state have experienced the opioid epidemic firsthand, and they need our help,” said Gov. Evers. “This is a crisis that requires our urgent attention and action, and these funds will continue our efforts to help folks who are struggling regain their hope, dignity, and health, providing them with the safe, stable housing they need to recover.”  

“We are pleased the Recovery Voucher Program offers safe and stable housing, a basic need often taken for granted, to people in treatment and recovery of an opioid use disorder,” said DHS Secretary Kirsten Johnson. “We are grateful for Gov. Evers’ support and for our recovery residence partners who are providing the safe housing and care management necessary for healing.”

“We’re once again proud to partner with DHS and local agencies to ensure that basic housing needs are met for people across the state through the Recovery Voucher program,” said DOA Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld. “Safe housing and shelter are critical for recovery, as they are for every Wisconsinite.”

DOA’s Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources (DEHCR) is administering the program, leveraging supportive housing expertise and strong existing partnerships with the Continuum of Care (CoC) Program in Milwaukee, Dane, and Racine counties, as well as local homeless coalitions serving the other 69 counties across the state. The seven agencies funded to administer the program have a primary focus area covering 30 counties; however, all people within the state can access the program through any of the agencies.

More information on the program is available here. Learn how to become an approved recovery residence here, and view the statewide registry here.