Safe and stable housing is fundamental to helping people in recovery have more successful long-term outcomes and enables providers to serve them most effectively. Recognizing this, The State of Wisconsin, Department of Health Services (DHS) is using a portion of Wisconsin’s McKinsey & Company opioid settlement to fund the Recovery Voucher (RV) program. The goal of the RV program is to provide an opportunity for people who have been diagnosed with opioid use disorder (OUD) or are receiving treatment for OUD to move into safe interim housing who otherwise would struggle to find housing due to limited housing options, financial or other barriers. The Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Energy, Housing, and Community Resources (DEHCR) administers the program on behalf of DHS.

In 2023, 2024, and 2025 [LW1] , DEHCR funded evidenced-based programs for clients who are experiencing HUD category 1, 2, 3, or 4 homelessness and who also have an opioid use disorder (OUD) diagnosis or have been receiving treatment for OUD within the past 12-months. Under the program, clients are eligible along with their families to be housed in a DHS recognized recovery residence. Funded applicants demonstrated their impact through the strength of their application [LW2] coupled with ongoing data collection and evaluation of clients served. Criteria from the Recover Voucher NOFO & Program Manual defines evidence-based interventions and outcomes. Grant applicants are awarded points within the Project Needs Statement (worth 40% of total points) based on their plans to recruit and prioritize clients and interventions.