Researchers at UTHealth Houston have received a $25 million grant from the Texas Opioid Abatement Fund Council to expand recovery housing for Texans recovering from opioid use disorder. The project, called Housing Expansion for Access to Recovery for Texans (HEART), is led by J. Michael Wilkerson, PhD, MPH; Serena A. Rodriguez, PhD, MPH; and Kathryn R. Gallardo, PhD, all faculty members in the Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences at the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health.
“We are excited to partner with community organizations across Texas and with the Texas Opioid Abatement Fund Council to build a recovery housing system that is responsive and ready to meet the needs of Texans,” Wilkerson said.
The HEART initiative aims to improve support systems for people transitioning toward independent living while maintaining long-term recovery. In Texas, there is an urgent need for effective recovery resources as opioid overdose rates continue to rise.
“The successful implementation of HEART’s objectives will transform the landscape of recovery housing across Texas by increasing the quantity and availability of level II and III recovery residences, often called sober living homes,” Gallardo said. “All residences will be supportive of people taking medications for an opioid use disorder.”
Wilkerson, Rodriguez, and Gallardo also collaborate on another project known as CoLab: Community, Connection, and Collaboration with Sheryl McCurdy, PhD. This team works with communities through education, training, program development, and service aimed at improving outcomes for those facing substance use or mental health challenges.
“By expanding recovery housing across Texas, we are investing in solutions that save lives, strengthen communities, and give people the support they need to achieve lasting recovery from opioid use disorder,” said Kelly Hancock, acting chair of the Texas Opioid Abatement Fund Council.
The grant will fund these efforts over three years with an option to extend funding for two more years.
