Establishing Peer Support for People with Opioid Use Disorder Who Are Experiencing Homelessness

HELP USA, Inc., a national homeless services provider, will train staff and shelter residents to support people living in HELP-operated transitional housing in gaining access to treatment, harm reduction, and recovery supports. Staff who become credentialled as alcohol and substance abuse counselors will facilitate support group in shelters on New York City’s Wards Island and make handoffs to higher levels of care, while shelter residents in recovery who become credentialled as peers will provide one-on-one supports. The peers will be paid a stipend for their work.