Application due date: January 27, 2026

SAMHSA’s GAINS Center for Behavioral Health and Justice Transformation, operated by Policy Research Associates, Inc (PRA), is continuing to provide direct training and technical assistance to jurisdictions across the nation to better support people with behavioral health needs who are involved in the civil and criminal justice systems. The GAINS Center is seeking applications from jurisdictions interested in collaborating with subject-matter experts on Addressing Housing upon Reentry to Support Community Reintegration and Prevent Homelessness through a topical Learning Collaborative (LC) opportunity.

About the Homelessness Prevention During Reentry LC

Access to housing is a critical issue for people with behavioral health conditions who are involved with the criminal justice system. Providing access to stable housing options for people across all intercepts of the Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) is crucial to supporting diversion and reentry efforts and meeting the basic needs of people who are justice-involved who are engaged in community-based treatment upon release from local jails. However, barriers often exist that prohibit or limit access to housing resources, including lack of available and appropriate options, collateral consequences of criminal justice system involvement that prevent or otherwise limit access, and poorly coordinated efforts to connect people with available housing resources, among others.

In many communities, lack of access to housing is the primary issue that undermines individuals’ ability to reintegrate into the community. This LC will bring together a broad group of cross-system community partners to address system barriers, gaps, and access issues in an effort to develop collaborative strategies to address these issues at the local level. The primary goal of the Addressing Housing upon Reentry to Support Community Reintegration and Prevent Homelessness LC is for selected teams to develop strategic plans to enhance local systems structures and collaboration. By implementing strategic plans, communities will support in-reach programs and transition planning efforts to improve access to the critical housing services necessary to support people with mental and substance use disorders in the community and, ultimately, prevent homelessness.

Selected teams will work together to develop strategies for building or enhancing cross-system partnerships that support the successful reentry and community reintegration for people with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder who are returning to the community from jail, prison, or inpatient commitment settings by ensuring access to stable and affordable housing and community supports. Throughout the LC, teams will be supported by subject-matter experts, engage in peer-to-peer learning, and receive targeted technical assistance. As appropriate, teams will explore how state leadership can help support efforts to implement and enhance these efforts in local jurisdictions.

Application and Selection Process

  • Applications for the Addressing Housing upon Reentry to Support Community Reintegration and Prevent Homelessness LC are due by January 27, 2026
  • The application process consists of two requirements:
    • Complete the Microsoft Forms application
    • List key partners who will participate in the team

All applicants will receive notification via email regarding the status of their application by the week of February 9, 2026.

Informational Webinar

January 21, 2026, 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET

Please join us for an informational webinar on January 21, 2026, from 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET. Attendees will learn more about this opportunity and hear from individuals who have participated in previous LCs about their experiences.

Important Note

Applications from jurisdictions interested in this opportunity are due shortly after the informational webinar. While interested jurisdictions may wait until after the webinar to apply, your jurisdiction does not need to wait until after the webinar to submit an application. Applications may be submitted at any time prior to the January 27 deadline.