Establishes Recovery Housing Assistance Program in DCA; appropriates $5 million.

A4939

ASSEMBLY, No. 4939

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MAY 7, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� KENYATTA STEWART

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes Recovery Housing Assistance Program in
DCA; appropriates $5 million.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
establishing the Recovery Housing Assistance Program,
supplementing chapter 27D of Title 52 of the Revised Statutes, and making an
appropriation.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� a. As used in this
section:

���� �Department� means the
Department of Community Affairs.

���� �Substance use disorder� means
a disorder defined to be consistent with generally recognized independent
standards of current medical practice referenced in the most current version of
the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

���� b.��� There is established a Recovery
Housing Assistance Program, to be administered by the Department of Community
Affairs in collaboration with the Department of Human Services.� The program
shall be administered for the purpose of assisting individuals recovering from
substance use disorder through providing:

���� (1)� stable, temporary transitional
housing, for a period not to exceed 12 months unless extended in compliance
with rules and regulations adopted by the department;

���� (2)� substance use specific
support;

���� (3)� workforce development services;
and

���� (4)� assistance in securing
permanent housing upon program completion. �

���� c.� The program shall be administered
in addition to, and in coordination with, any related existing programs and
shall be administered Statewide.� Priority shall be given to individuals who
are recently discharged from inpatient treatment or involved in the criminal justice
system for substance use offenses.

���� d.��� The Commissioner of
Community Affairs shall submit an annual report detailing the number of
individuals served, housing stability rates, employment outcomes, and program
expenditures to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164
(C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature.

���� e.���� There is established a
fund for the purpose of providing the moneys necessary to administer the
Recovery Housing Assistance Program, which may be used for purposes that shall
include, but shall not be limited to, funding for operational support for recovery
residences and sober living homes, rental assistance, housing navigation
services, substance use specific support services, and workforce development services.

���� 2.��� The Commissioner of
Community Affairs, in collaboration with the Department of Human Services, shall,
in accordance with the �Administrative Procedure Act,� P.L.1968, c.410
(C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt rules and regulations as necessary to effectuate
the provisions of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature
as this bill).

����

���� 3.��� There is appropriated $5
million from the General Fund to the fund established pursuant to subsection d.
of section of 1 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending
before the Legislature as this bill) to effectuate the purposes of that section.�

���� 4.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill establishes the
Recovery Housing Assistance Program, to be administered by the Department of
Community Affairs (DCA) in collaboration with the Department of Human Services.

���� The bill establishes the
Recovery Housing Assistance Program for the benefit of individuals who suffer
from substance use disorders.� The bill directs the Department of Community
Affairs to provide:

�

stable, temporary transitional housing, for a period not to
exceed 12 months unless extended in compliance with rules and regulations
adopted by DCA;

�

substance use specific support;

�

workforce development services; and

�

assistance in securing permanent housing upon program completion.

���� The bill provides that
priority for program participation will be given to individuals who are
recently discharged from inpatient treatment or involved in the criminal
justice system for substance use offenses.

���� The bill requires the Commissioner
of Community Affairs to submit a report detailing the number of individuals
served, housing stability rates, employment outcomes, and program expenditures
to the Governor and Legislature annually.

���� The bill establishes a fund
for the purpose of providing moneys to administer the Recovery Housing
Assistance Program including funds to provide operational support for recovery
residences and sober living homes, rental assistance, substance use specific
support services, and workforce development services. �The bill appropriates $5
million to the fund.

���� The bill requires DCA, in
collaboration with the Department of Human Services, to adopt rules and
regulations as necessary to carry out the provisions of the bill.

���� This bill is to take effect immediately.