The Smart Reentry: Housing Demonstration Program is one of the Second Chance Act (SCA) programs supported through the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).

People leaving incarceration face barriers 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.

The Smart Reentry: Housing Demonstration Program is designed to help jurisdictions assess their reentry housing systems, identify strengths and gaps, and build capacity for improving housing options for adults released from prison or jail. This program encourages cross-sector collaboration with justice and housing system stakeholders. 

The goal of this program is to establish demonstration projects that increase safe, healthy, and affordable housing options for people in reentry by working at the system and individual levels.

Training and Technical Assistance

In support of SCA grantees around the country, the BJA-supported National Reentry Resource Center works collaboratively with SCA technical assistance providers. These agencies provide on- and off-site training and technical assistance (TTA) to the government agencies and nonprofit organizations that receive grants under the provisions of the SCA.

Additionally, BJA’s National Training and Technical Assistance Center provides no-cost TTA on a variety of criminal justice topics to improve the knowledge and skills of criminal justice professionals. Agencies interested in receiving TTA can submit a request through an online application.