IL SB3853

Creates the Housing is Recovery Pilot Program within the Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health to provide bridge rental subsidies for individuals at high risk of unnecessary institutionalization or overdose due to homelessness.

Establishes eligibility for individuals age 21+ with serious mental illness who have had 3+ psychiatric hospital admissions or correctional facility stays in the past 12 months, or those with substance use disorders who have had 3+ hospital/detoxification admissions, correctional stays, or 1+ overdoses in the past 12 months, and who are enrolled in Medicaid.

Bridge rental subsidies cap rent at Fair Market Rent (or up to 120% if justified by local housing shortage), require subsidy holders to pay 30% of income toward rent, mandate engagement services at least twice monthly with one home visit, and operate as a Housing First model not requiring abstinence or treatment participation.

Requires identification and referral of eligible individuals prior to hospital discharge or correctional facility release through a working group of stakeholders, and allocates up to 20% of annual appropriation for critical time intervention temporary housing (maximum 90 days).

Mandates independent outside research evaluation after 4 years with results submitted to General Assembly by year 5, and requires annual public reporting on participant numbers, demographics, program duration, removal reasons, grievances, and referral sources; appropriations divided equally between two eligible populations.