Assembly Bill Would Allow Funding for Drug-Free Recovery Homes

For nearly a decade, drug-free recovery centers in California have been cut off from state funds after a “housing first” model was adopted, prioritizing housing for the homeless over sobriety. But as the state still faces a drug and homelessness crisis, lawmakers have realized a change is needed. Assembly Bill 2479, authored by Assemblyman Matt Haney, could allow 25 percent of the state’s housing funds to be redirected to drug treatment facilities that require sobriety, veering away from the current housing-first model. “With the deadly, devastating impact of fentanyl, our goal must always be to help people get off of and away from deadly illegal drugs,” Mr. Haney said in an April 15 press release announcing the bill....