Vermont State Laws, Policies and Funding
RH terminology used by the Vermont Department of Health, Division of Substance Use Programs (DSU) “Recovery housing creates a substance-free living environment to help people transition from treatment programs and help establish a new routine without alcohol or other drugs. Here people support each other until there is readiness and stability to move back home or to a new home.”
https://www.healthvermont.gov/alcohol-drugs/end-addiction-stigma/community
Accreditation, Certification, and State Licensing Requirement: No state requirement.
RH Law(s): Act 185 (2022) The new alcohol and drug abuse program beds funded through Sec. B.313 of this act shall be used to treat public inebriates instead of having these individuals held by the Department of Corrections. On or before January 15, 2023, the Department of Health, in consultation with the Chief Prevention Officer, Vermont Preferred Providers, Vermont Care Partners, the Vermont Association for Mental Health and Addiction Recovery, and the Vermont Alliance for Recovery Residences, shall submit a written report to the House Committees on Appropriations and on Human Services and to the Senate Committees on Appropriations and on Health and Welfare examining whether there is excess bed capacity among those programs designated for use by public inebriates. The report shall include an analysis of the financial sustainability of the programs. If the Department determines that there is excess capacity, the report shall include a plan to make efficient use of the excess capacity, including possibly redesignating beds for alternative purposes.
https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2022/H.740
Act 88 (2020) On or before April 1, 2020, the Department of Corrections shall report to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, the House Committee on Corrections and Institutions, and the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations on how to strengthen existing graduated sanctions and incentives policies to ensure they reflect current research on best practices for responses to violation behavior that most effectively achieve behavior change and uphold public safety. The Department shall also identify reentry housing needs for corrections populations. As a part of this work, the Department shall submit its recommendations including initial cost estimates regarding, among other provisions, reducing barriers to recovery housing by establishing evidence-based norms and expectations for contracts and certifications for sober and recovery housing providers, including allowing for the use of medications and restricting evictions due to relapse.
https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2020/H.760
Legislation: H211 (2021) This bill proposes to: (1) provide certain residential rental agreement exclusions to recovery residences; (2) require that recovery residences have certain policies and procedures pertaining to residential agreements, temporary removal, separation, and drug testing; (3) require a municipality to treat a recovery residence as a single family residential home under its land use bylaws; (4) require the Department of Corrections to submit a report to the General Assembly pertaining to the number of individuals on furlough who reside in recovery residences; and (5) establishes the Recovery Stabilization Study Committee.
https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2022/H.211
H783 (2020) This bill proposes to: (1) provide certain residential rental agreement exclusions to recovery residences; (2) require that recovery residences have certain policies and procedures pertaining to residential agreements, temporary removal, separation, and drug testing; and (3) require a municipality to treat a recovery residence as a single-family residential home under its land use bylaws.
https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2020/H.783
H223 (2020) This bill proposes to require a tenant of a substance abuse recovery home that has been certified by the Vermont affiliate of the National Alliance for Recovery Residences to vacate the premises immediately after he or she violates the terms of his or her contract with the home’s operator.
https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2020/H.223
Regulations: None/unknown
SABG Program: The “Planned Priority Areas” documents for your state’s Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG) program and Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG) program do not specifically mention recovery housing as a priority, nor do they list recovery support services as an allowable activity. To learn more about specific recovery housing activities that are eligible for funding through these grant programs, please reach out to your state’s Single State Agency (SSA) that’s responsible for administering these funds by visiting https://www.healthvermont.gov/alcohol-drugs
SOR Program: Your state’s Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) has previously funded recovery activities using State Opioid Response (SOR) funds. To learn more about specific recovery housing activities that are eligible for funding through this grant program, please reach out to your state’s Single State Agency (SSA) that’s responsible for administering these funds by visiting https://www.healthvermont.gov/alcohol-drugs
Medicaid Funding: Nothing in the state Medicaid plan suggests direct support for RH, however, certain covered activities could evolve to be provided in RH settings to include peer support, case management, counseling, skills development, and supported employment.
NARR Affiliate Status: Yes, the Vermont Alliance for Recovery Residences (VTARR)
Housing Assistance Funding: https://www.vhfa.org/
Directory/Registry:
Certified Recovery Residenceshttps://vtarr.org/recovery-residences.php
Vermont Funders
The Richard E. and Deborah L. Tarrant Foundation
The Tarrant Foundation is based in Winooski, Vermont and was created with a mission to help meet basic needs, create opportunity, and improve the lives of people in Vermont. The Tarrant Foundation was created by businessman and entrepreneur Rich Tarrant.
Regions: The Tarrant Foundation engages in community based grant-making to Vermont based organizations.
Issues Supported: Community based grant-making at the Tarrant Foundation is focused on basic and emergency aid, and community and economic development.
Grant Process and Application: The Tarrant Foundation awards between 50 – 70 competitive grants annually. The Tarrant Foundation does not have application deadlines, and applications can be submitted throughout the year. Find out more information about the grant-making process by visiting the Foundation website.
Grant-Making Per Year: The Endowment has provided over $2.9 billion to California organizations since its founding. In 2020, the Endowment provided grants in the amount of $159.4 million.
Recovery and Supportive Housing Grantee Example: The Vermont Foundation of Recovery (VFOR) has a mission to create a statewide network of Recovery Homes (clean and sober living homes) to help people suffering from Substance Use Disorder, re-assimilate into society by supporting the transitions from active use, to recovery, to independent living. VFOR has six houses located across the state in primarily rural localities including Caledonia, Franklin, Lamoille, Rutland Counties.
The Couch Family Foundation
The mission of the Couch Family Foundation is to be a catalyst for change in the lives of children and their families by creating quality and equitable opportunities to help them learn, thrive, and lead healthy, fulfilling lives. The Couch Family Foundation is run by Barbara and Dick Couch.
Regions: The Couch Family Foundation partners with organizations serving the Upper Valley Region of New Hampshire, Vermont, and Martha’s Vineyard.
Issues Supported: The Couch Family Foundation supports people and programs working to improve children’s health and well-being, early learning and development, family resiliency, and community vibrancy.
Grant Process and Application: The Couch Foundation has quarterly application deadlines, Nov. 15, 2021-January 30, 2022, February 1-April 30, 2022, May 3-July 30, 2022 and August 2-October 31, 2022. Applications can be submitted via their online portal.
Recovery and Supportive Housing Grantee Example: The Couch Family Foundation supports the Vermont Alliance for Recovery Residences (VTARR) which operates a number of rural recovery homes across the state and supports those in recovery from substance use disorders by improving access to recovery residences. The Couch Family Foundation and VTARR support a recovery home called Maple St Dismas located in Windsor County, Vermont.
Vermont Opioid Settlement Funds
Total Settlement Funds in Virginia
- Total $65 million: $53 million from distributors and $12 million from Johnson & Johnson
Fund Distribution
- 15% to local governments
- 15% to the state
- 70% to the Opioid Abatement Special Fund
Timeline
- Funds from three distributors will be paid over 18 years
- Funds from Johnson & Johnson will be paid over 9 years
Application Process
- Not established
Key Contacts
- Attorney General Joshua R. Diamond, 802-828-3171, ago.info@vermont.gov
Key Links
How About Your County?
To get a quick overview of the resources available in your county, including gaps that may need to be addressed, visit the Recovery Ecosystem Index Map developed through a partnership between the Fletcher Group Rural Center of Excellence, the NORC Walsh Center at the University of Chicago, and East Tennessee State University.
Need More Info?
A year in the making by a staff of ten, the Fletcher Group’s 82-page Recovery Housing Landscape Report provides an in-depth overview of the most recent laws, policies, and funding affecting recovery housing. You’ll find sections devoted to state laws, SAMHSA funding, Medicaid, corrections, and housing assistance plus numerous links to valuable resources and official documents. To see the complete downloadable report, click the image to the left.
This web page is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $13.7 million with 0% financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.
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