2-CSV Pilot Plan Attachment B.docx

Continuing Sobriety Voucher (CSV) Pilot Plan

Program Overview Under the direction of R-25-179, R-25-060 Enacted, the City of Albuquerque’s Health, Housing & Homelessness Department (HHH) will launch a two year Continuing Sobriety Voucher Pilot for up to 25 participants annually exiting rehab, detox, or treatment, who are committed to maintaining sobriety, with the provision of the recommended funding allocation. The pilot integrates the City’s Recovery Housing Study recommendations, Level-3 recovery housing standards, and non-exclusionary therapeutic best practices and will fund a 12-month voucher, with up to a six month extension depending on client need.

Goals

Key Features

· The program will not exclude participants based on criminal justice history, gender identity, or prior relapses. Intake and service provision will align with ADA, Fair Housing, and equity-based access standards.

Eligibility

· Must meet Resolution baseline (≥18, experiencing homelessness, completed detox/rehab, or other substance use treatment). Intake is utilized for appropriateness and motivation for ongoing recovery.

· Clinical intake assesses needs (American Society of Addiction Medicine “ASAM”-informed), co-occurring conditions, housing barriers, and supports required.

· Client commitment to ongoing active engagement in recovery services.

· Client is committed to recovery and consents to the therapeutic use of routine drug and alcohol screenings.

Referral Process

· Participants will be referred through the Gateway Recovery program, treatment providers, and community detox centers using a standardized referral form and eligibility verification checklist.

Program Supports and Operations

1. Case management (required): weekly then tapering to biweekly as stable. Track goal progress, benefits, employment, tenancy.

1. Recovery supports (required): peer groups, recovery coaching, linkage to AA/NA/outpatient treatment. Encourage participant choice in support utilization.

1. Clinical linkages: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), outpatient counseling, psychiatric meds — program explicitly accommodates prescriptions and coordination with providers.

4. Therapeutic monitoring (not exclusionary): routine, low-threshold drug/alcohol screening used to support treatment planning. Screening results trigger graduated, supportive responses (increase case management, re-engagement with clinical care, short-term stabilization supports).

5. Graduated responses: missed treatment appointment or positive screen → supportive plan, short-term intensified services, voluntary or temporary clinical stay (not automatic eviction). Repeated, unresolved safety issues or violent behavior remain enforceable grounds for termination. This ensures sobriety conditions are therapeutic rather than exclusionary.

5. Confidentiality / HIPAA / ADA: ensure clinical data is protected; reasonable accommodations for disability (including Medication Assisted Treatment) guaranteed.

6. Landlord engagement & incentives: ensure active communication with landlords, provide damage mitigation funds and vacancy payments as needed to secure tenancies. Cost for these services are included in the proposed budget if there is not access to the Landlord Engagement Program.

7. Legal Support: To assist with navigation of legal obligations, support in criminal proceedings, probation compliance and initiating a plan to avoid recidivism.

8. Housing quality & NARR standards: prioritize Level-3 providers meeting NARR principles to provide case management, monitoring, and clinical linkages, in addition to the existing housing voucher policies and procedures.

9. Discharge Planning: Participants approaching program completion will receive transition planning at least 60 days before exit, including connection to long-term housing vouchers, employment supports, or self-sustaining tenancy. Discharge planning may include appropriate lease termination, to avoid any further eviction violations. In this program model, the case manager or housing liaison will need to be thoughtful on rent reasonableness and a transition plan may include short term continued subsidy support until they are able to sustain the housing on their own.

10. Landlord Liaison function may be housed in HHH or responsibility assumed within the contracted partner; include a small fund for damage mitigation and vacancy incentives for private rentals requiring tenancy supports per City voucher policies.

Evaluation Metrics The proposed program includes funding for an evaluator to ensure efficacy of the program. Metrics to be reviewed include enrollment/retention, exit into stable housing, recidivism, employment, service engagement, treatment adherence and supportive responses, landlord satisfaction, comparative analysis to housing-first placements.

· Evaluation partner (researcher or evaluator) contracted up front to design comparative analysis and track defined metrics.

Collect and report at pilot end (and quarterly):

· Enrollment, retention, and exits.

· Housing stability (30/90/180-day retention).

· Eligibility for and Enrollment in housing assistance programs, if eligible due to possible prior convictions

· Employment/income changes, service engagement.

· Rates of compliance, supportive re-engagement after positive screens, and termination reasons.

· Self-Reported Status of Recovery.

· Landlord satisfaction and housing quality indicators.

· Financial impact of a phased approach to paying a percentage of rent based on employment or income.

· Financial impact and feasibility of utilization of Medicaid for covered services.

· Comparative analysis vs housing-first placements (matched cohort) on stability & recidivism.

Timeline

• Within 30 days:

· Finalize plan that includes finalized voucher rent standards (FMR/local median cap) and landlord incentive schedule. Use local rent data to set voucher cap (e.g., $1,200–$1,400 depending on unit size).

· Issue Request for Proposal for Level-3 provider and an evaluation partner; include NARR alignment as preferred

· Within 90 days of RFP being posted route legislation for a contract for Council approval and have executed agreement with Evaluator.

• Rolling intake to last at least 12 months after the first client enters housing with continuous monitoring.

• Within 90 days post-pilot: Report outcomes and recommendations.

At conclusion of the pilot, ensure clients are appropriately transitioned to stable housing, or ensure continued funding for up to six months until such transfers can occur.

Outcomes Expected Improved housing stability, increased employment/service engagement, lower recidivism into homelessness, and data to guide scaling of recovery-oriented vouchers.