AUGUSTA - The Maine House gave final approval on Wednesday to a bill sponsored by Rep. Drew Gattine, D-Westbrook, that would continue a successful homeless substance use disorder service program.
"Housing is a critical component of substance use disorder treatment," said Gattine. "Traditional case management systems are unsuitable for homeless individuals experiencing acute symptoms of substance use disorder, making them particularly susceptible to overdoses and death. More intensive, low-barrier approaches like this legislation are needed."
As amended, LD 1781 would build on the success of the Homeless Opioid Users Service Engagement (HOUSE) pilot project within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) that provided stable housing and access to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment for 24 months for some of the most vulnerable opioid users in Maine. Maine created the original pilot project through legislation sponsored by Rep. Gattine in 2019.
The new legislation would expand treatment access to individuals with any SUD experiencing homelessness and provide transportation, community services and inpatient treatment services for at least 100 Mainers. DHHS would be required to report back to the Legislature's committees of jurisdiction on the program every two years, beginning Jan. 2, 2025, including details on the number of successful participants and descriptions of services provided.
"Members of this population with long-term homelessness are up to 29 times more likely to be in the hospital, and up to 57 times more likely to be in jail when unhoused, than when housed," said Cullen Ryan, executive director of Community Housing of Maine. "Simply put, this population ricochets through our most expensive emergency systems when unhoused. No one will get well without housing, and no one will be successful in recovery without housing and sufficient support."
A survey by MaineHousing identified that 4,411 individuals were experiencing homelessness last year in Maine. In the January 2022 report, 1,734 of these individuals self-identified as having behavioral health issues, including serious mental illness and substance use disorder.
The bill faces further votes in the Senate.
Gattine is serving his fifth non-consecutive term in the Maine House and represents parts of Westbrook, Scarborough and Saco. He is a member of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee and the Joint Select Committee on Housing.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Gattine], c. 305-965-2744