CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY SIXTH COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. R-25-179 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Ren?e Grout
RESOLUTION
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Establishing A Continuing Sobriety Housing Voucher Pilot Program For Individuals Experiencing Homelessness; Directing The Department Of Health, Housing, And Homelessness To Develop A Plan To Implement A Pilot Program And Report On Outcomes (Grout)
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ESTABLISHING A CONTINUING SOBRIETY HOUSING VOUCHER PILOT PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS; DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, HOUSING, AND HOMELESSNESS TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO IMPLEMENT A PILOT PROGRAM AND REPORT ON OUTCOMES.
WHEREAS, the City of Albuquerque is committed to addressing homelessness through a range of evidence-based housing interventions that recognize the diverse needs, preferences, and pathways of unhoused individuals; and
WHEREAS, the City lacks a dedicated housing voucher option for individuals who are transitioning from rehabs, treatment centers, or detoxes into housing; and
WHEREAS, continuing sobriety housing vouchers can serve as a complement to ongoing investments in harm reduction and low-barrier shelter models by providing options for individuals in recovery; and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to pilot a targeted program that offers housing vouchers to individuals committed to maintaining sobriety while participating in structured recovery supports; and
WHEREAS, evaluating whether individuals receiving sobriety-conditioned housing vouchers experience better or different housing stability outcomes than those served through traditional housing-first models will provide valuable data to inform future policy and program design; and
WHEREAS, a limited pilot will allow the City to evaluate effectiveness, demand, and program design before considering expansion of the current housing voucher programs.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE:
SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF A PILOT PROGRAM. The Department of Health, Housing, and Homelessness (HHH) is directed to create a Continuing Sobriety Voucher Program (Program) to initially serve twenty-five individuals coming out of rehab, detox, or other substance abuse treatment, who meet the following criteria:
a) Are at least 18 years old;
b) Are experiencing homelessness;
c) Have successfully completed some form of detox, rehab, or other substance abuse treatment;
d) Agree to abstain from the use of alcohol and illicit substance use during participation in the Program;
e) Agree to continue treatment in Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, out-patient recovery, or other substance abuse treatment or peer support program;
f) Consent to routine drug and alcohol screenings as a condition of ongoing participation in the Program; and
g) Participate in case management and any other supportive services required by the administrating agency or provider.
SECTION 2. PROGRAM PURPOSE. This Pilot Program is intended to evaluate whether requiring sobriety as a condition of receiving a housing voucher leads to improved outcomes-such as continued employment, increased housing stability, greater engagement with services, and stronger long-term success-when compared to existing low-barrier, housing-first models. The Program is designed to provide a more direct pathway to housing for individuals who voluntarily agree to maintain sobriety as a condition of participation and to provide a needed transition support from treatment centers to stable housing. The Program is intended to be temporary in nature and provide up to one year of support for qualified individuals.
SECTION 3. HOUSING OPTIONS. The Program shall utilize housing vouchers designated as Continuing Sobriety Vouchers (CSV).
a) The Program shall operate similarly to the City's other housing voucher programs with the highest level of wrap around services, including access to the Landlord Engagement Program, and the added condition that participants maintain sobriety throughout their participation in the Program.
b) Participants shall have the ability to choose their own housing units within the private rental market and receive assistance from Landlord Liaisons in locating and securing housing.
c) Allowable expenses under the Program shall mirror those permitted under existing voucher programs, ensuring consistency in rental assistance, supportive services, and administrative processes.
d) The Program shall comply will the City's existing housing voucher policies and procedures.
SECTION 4. SUBMISSION OF PLAN. HHH shall develop a CSV Program plan to contract with a qualified provider to deliver screening, CSV administration, case management, compliance monitoring, and other supports necessary to implement the Program successfully. The CSV Program plan shall include a request for an appropriation to conduct the pilot program for one year. HHH shall submit the CSV Program plan via resolution to City Council for approval and appropriation within sixty (60) days of the passage of this Resolution.
SECTION 5. EVALUATION AND REPORTING. HHH shall, within ninety (90) days of the conclusion of the one-year pilot, submit a report to City Council via Executive Communication detailing:
a) Enrollment and retention statistics;
b) Participation outcomes related to housing stability, employment, recidivism, service engagement, and landlord satisfaction;
c) Rates of compliance or termination;
d) A comparative analysis of outcomes relative to the existing housing-first voucher programs; and
e) Recommendations regarding the continuation of the Program, scaling, or integration into the broader homelessness response system.
SECTION 6. SEVERABILITY CLAUSE. If any section, paragraph, sentence, clause, word, or phrase of this Resolution is for any reason held to be invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Resolution. The Council hereby declares that it would have passed this Resolution and each section, paragraph, sentence, clause, word, or phrase thereof irrespective of any provision being declared unconstitutional or otherwise invalid.
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