Texas Department of State Health Services

Texas Recovery Initiative Supporting Housing for Persons in Recovery

What is the Texas Recovery Initiative (TRI)?

The purpose of TRI is to ensure services and resources necessary are conveniently available to support persons in their recovery from substance use disorders.

Recovery assistance will be provided through Recovery Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC).

ROSCs are partnerships and collaborations consisting of Federal, State, County, and City agencies, Community, and Faith-based organizations, and individuals that provide services and resources vital to the recovery process.

The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) with the assistance of those participating agencies/organizations are developing ROSC model programs in metropolitan and rural areas in Texas.

• $500 Million- The estimated financial cost associated to the number of lost work days each year in the U.S., due to alcoholism alone.

• $276 billion- The estimated cost associated to drug and alcohol problems in the United States a year .

• $33.4 billion, Total estimated economic costs of alcohol and drug abuse in Texas in 2007. The work productivity loss accounted for 43.7% of that total costs.

• $885 million –Estimated total treatment costs of alcohol and drug abuse in Texas in 2007.

• $8.9 billion -Total estimated crime costs in Texas due to alcohol and drug abuse in 2007. Of that amount, the incarceration costs due to work productivity loss for individuals with alcohol and drug abuse were about $2.5 billion.

• 1,927,033 -The estimated number of persons who are in need of substance abuse treatment services in Texas in 2010.

• Sources: National Business Group on Health, Dec. 3, 2010Texas Department of State Health Services Mental Health and Substance Abuse, 2007

The Impact of Substance Use on the Economy

Factors that Support Recovery

• Employment• Housing• Positive Social Support Network• Supportive Resources (employment,

medical, educational, food, child care, transportation, etc.)

The Importance of Housing

• It is a basic need for every individual.

• Next to employment, housing is the second most important factor that contributes to how individuals feels about themselves.

• Provides physical security for ourselves and family

Housing Barriers for Persons in Recovery

• Lack or limited income • Poor or no credit history• Laws that deny persons with certain criminal

conviction(s)• Availability of quality low income housing • Availability of locally owned subsidized housing• Long waiting lists

Current Housing Opportunities for Recovering Persons

• Transitional housing for those released from correctional settings (ex. Half-way and three-quarter way houses, family members)

• Community-based Sober Transitional Housing

• Oxford Housing

• Quality and affordable subsidized housing

• Open Rental Apartments and Homes

Employer Success Stories

• Turner Industries, Pasadena, TX : • Persons in recovery trained for

welding, fabricating and materials handling – currently about 20% of total workforce

• “They’re motivated employees…They appreciate the company for giving them a second chance” Brian Daigle, Houston Chronicle article 10/21/10

Employer Success Stories cont.

• Venturetech Corp., Houston, TX:• Persons in recovery and/or formerly

incarcerated are employed in heavy equipment manufacturing – up to 45% of workforce

• “Treatment makes workers want to give back through loyal and diligent performance” Darrell Verrett “It makes your workers more productive…and it also helps the bottom line” Larry Keast, article in Houston Chronicle 12/29/10

Things You Can Do To Help Make Quality Housing Available?

• Help to change laws that prevent those deserving of a new opportunity to housing.

• Be open to negotiate criteria regarding local policies on resident selection.

• Don’t stereotype recovering individuals• Request additional information and or

documentation the may show the individual’s worthiness.

• Seek funding and/or property opportunities to develop or that will allow the property to be offered to persons with drug/drug related history.

• Use resources available at federal, state, and local levels

Benefits of Supporting Housing for Persons in Recovery

• Generates revenue for the owner of the property by filling a vacancy

• Provides a stable living environment that allows an individual to work thereby helping to stimulate the economy and pay taxes

• Helps to deter crime• Helps to limit the number of people

who are homeless

Client Success Stories

Amy-Abilene- “I have eight months clean and sober today, praise God. Before coming to the Access To Recovery (ATR) program in Abilene, I had been doing meth on a daily basis for the past fifteen years.” “The ATR program has given me the skills necessary to change my life.

Monique-El Paso “October of 2005, I had tried drugs for the first time, and in December of 2005, I was not only using on a pretty regular basis, but I found myself in jail for possession of a controlled substance. I voluntarily went into a very well known local rehabilitation program. I recently celebrated my 1 year anniversary of being clean. I have managed to, obtain my own 3 bedroom apartment, and I just mailed off the paperwork to renew my professional license.”

For More Information on the TRI Initiative Regarding Housing

• DSHS TRI website: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/sa/texasrecoveryinitiative/default.shtm

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