San Francisco Legislator Introduces Bill to Protect Clean and Sober Housing for Californians in Recovery

Assemblymember Haney's AB 1556 will empower housing providers to keep voluntary shelters drug-free for residents exiting homelessness and in recovery.

SAN FRANCISCO - Surrounded by local leaders, service providers, and recovery advocates, Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) announced legislation today that would strengthen and protect drug-free recovery housing across California while ensuring people who relapse stay connected to housing and services.

Assembly bill AB 1556 builds on last year's proposal, AB 255, and reflects ongoing collaboration with the Governor's office to address gaps in California's homelessness response. The bill establishes a clear, statewide framework allowing recovery housing providers to maintain drug and alcohol-free environments while requiring a non-punitive, "warm handoff" to alternative housing and services for residents who return to use. "Not every path to recovery looks the same, but for many, a sober living environment is the only path toward healing," said Assemblymember Haney. "With fentanyl and other deadly drugs taking lives every day, we can't ignore the needs of people who are ready to get clean and stay clean. AB 1556 supports them while still upholding our commitment to keeping people housed."

California's Housing First policy has expanded access to housing by removing barriers like sobriety requirements. However, it has also created challenges for recovery housing providers that depend on drug-free environments to help residents maintain stability. Under current law, programs receiving state funds cannot require sobriety - even for people who actively want to live in a clean and sober environment. While recent state guidance clarified that recovery housing can exist within Housing First, it did not clearly address how providers should respond when a resident returns to use, leaving uncertainty that threatens both programs and residents.

AB 1556 addresses that gap by codifying clear standards for recovery housing. The bill requires providers to adopt a written "Return to Use" policy that outlines how they will respond to relapse in a supportive, non-punitive way, including connecting individuals to treatment, services, and alternative housing placements.

The bill's sponsors agree that this proposal strikes a critical balance: protecting recovery environments for those committed to sobriety, while ensuring no one is pushed back into homelessness.

"Every day, we see the dual crisis of homelessness and drug addiction play out on our streets. Over the past year, we've taken steps to respond with urgency, but with all the work we are doing, there is still a major gap: Right now, state funding cannot be used for sober, recovery-focused housing. This bill will fix that," said San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie. "To everyone struggling or working to stay in recovery, we are working every day to build a system that supports you. And we're not going to stop."

"The business and civic leaders of the Bay Area Council remain committed to effective solutions to homelessness-and AB 1556 by Assemblymember Haney is exactly that. It's well past time California supports residents who choose recovery housing so they can heal and stay housed in a drug-free environment. We commend the bill's authors and our co-sponsor, Mayor Lurie, for their relentless commitment to addressing the intertwined challenges of homelessness and addiction on our streets", said Libby Schaaf, President & CEO of the Bay Area Council.

The need for more recovery housing options is urgent. While harm reduction housing works for many, it does not meet the needs of everyone. Thousands of Californians seeking sobriety are left without access to environments that support their recovery, increasing the risk of relapse, overdose, and housing instability.

AB 1556 ensures recovery housing is a viable and supported option within California's homelessness response, giving people the choice to pursue sobriety in a stable environment without risking a return to homelessness.

The bill is co-sponsored by the Bay Area Council and San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie.

AB 1556 soared through policy committees unanimously and will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee in the coming weeks.

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