USDA, HHS partner to create recovery housing in rural communities

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Health and Human Services will partner to create addiction recovery transitional housing in rural communities, the agencies announced recently. Under the memorandum of understanding, USDA Rural Development and HHS’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will coordinate efforts to sell USDA’s Real Estate Owned single-family housing properties at a discount to non-profit organizations that provide housing, treatment, job training and other key services for people in substance misuse treatment and recovery, the agencies said. “We know that the opioid crisis has hit rural communities hard, and we need to leverage all possible partnerships to support these communities,” said HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Elinore McCance-Katz, M.D. “Housing plays a vital part in the recovery process for those living with opioid use disorders.”