Smart Reentry: Housing Demonstration Program (US)

The program will help jurisdictions assess their reentry housing systems, identify strengths and gaps, and build capacity for improved housing options for adults released from prison or jail. People leaving incarceration face barriers upon their return to communities, including challenges accessing housing, obtaining employment, and connecting with physical and behavioral health services. The barriers and their consequences are interrelated. Finding safe and affordable housing is well documented as both a challenge and part of the foundation to successful reintegration. Challenges include a lack of options, high costs, and policy restrictions that prevent them from returning to certain places or reuniting with their families.

Goal

• The goal of this FY 2024 Smart Reentry Program is to establish demonstration projects that increase safe, healthy, and affordable housing options for people in reentry.
• Grantees will develop, implement, or test strategies to expand housing options, including to assess and amend system-level policies and practices while keeping the experience of the people impacted by the system in clear focus.

Objectives

• With this solicitation, the Smart Reentry: Housing Demonstration Program supports state, local, and federally recognized tribal entities throughout the country to establish partnerships or otherwise work to:
  • Provide safe and affordable housing for individuals involved in the criminal justice system;
  • Provide an adequate supply of stable short-term and/or permanent housing services for justice- and/or formerly justice-involved individuals that are appropriate and meet the needs of individuals returning from incarceration;
  • Reduce barriers and promote access to secure, safe, and stable housing opportunities for individuals involved and/or formerly involved in the criminal justice system; or
  • Provide wrap around services (e.g., substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, intensive case management, money management, etc.) to individuals involved in or formerly involved in the criminal justice system to ensure continuity of care.
• BJA will provide TTA support at no cost to the grantees awarded under this solicitation to provide strategic support and intensive technical assistance during the life of this grant.

Funding Information

• Anticipated Number of Awards: Up to 7
• Anticipated Maximum Dollar Amount per Award: Up to $1,000,000
• Period of Performance Start Date: October 1, 2024
• Period of Performance Duration (Months): 36
• Anticipated Total Amount to Be Awarded Under This Solicitation: $7,000,000

Eligibility Criteria

• State governments
• City or township governments
• County governments
• Other units of local government, such as towns, boroughs, parishes, villages, or other
• general purpose political subdivisions of a State
• Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)

For more information, visit Grants.gov.