Mental Health & Recovery Board K Rapid Rehousing Program

Housing has the potential to be a piece of a conduit to reentry for formerly incarcerated individuals. It also holds a promise in reducing the human and community cost of a return to prison. Housing tied to other assistance and linkage to a range of health care, support services and employment forms a necessary network for returning citizens. The Mental Health Recovery Board of Clark, Greene and Madison Counties (MHRB), in partnership with the Clark County Department of Reentry and other community partners proposes to create a SMART Housing Reentry initiative that increases housing options for returning male and female citizens and offers other services and supports to increase the successful return for program participants in Clark County, Ohio. We plan to address gaps in the current system by increasing support with the addition of a housing specialist and peer supports and providing rapid rehousing assistance. We also intend to collect data aimed at system improvements and utilizing best practices to address access to stable housing and services that increase the potential for this population. The MHRB is a unit of local government and the statutory authority for mental health and substance abuse treatment and prevention. The Clark County Department of Reentry will serve as the subrecipient receiving at least 40 percent of the requested funding because they exclusively serve a population that consists of returning citizens made up of individuals who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by inequity. This trauma informed approach will assist people of color, individuals impacted by trauma, violence, crime, mental illness and substance abuse disorders. Evaluation and data analysis will be provided by a regional company skilled in grant evaluation, data collection, quantitative and qualitative analysis. The focus of this effort is to increase access to safe and affordable housing for those reentering Clark County, Ohio from incarceration.