How States Can Use SAMHSA Block Grants

Preface

This report highlights efforts of many States to use Federal Block Grant funds for mental health and substance abuse services, administered by the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), to provide more effective care for people who are homeless. The Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant is the Federal government’s primary source of funding to States for drug and alcohol treatment and for primary prevention programs. The Mental Health (MH) Block Grant provides funds to States to create comprehensive, community-based systems of mental health care. It is not a requirement of either grant program that the funds to be used to support services to people who are homeless. However, many States and localities have devised strategies to deploy block grant funds to promote provision of both homeless services and innovative planning mechanisms that ensure efficient use of resources. Some of the more effective State strategies identified to date are presented as short case studies in this report.

There is pronounced need for mental health and substance abuse treatment among people who are homeless. SAMHSA, in partnership with the Interagency Council on Homelessness, has prepared this technical assistance report to promote improved access to mainstream resources and services for this population. The report offers guidance to States and local communities on how block grant funds are being used to address homelessness.

This report expands upon earlier efforts by SAMHSA and both the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD) and the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD) to document State mental health and substance abuse agency efforts to support services to people who are homeless.

This report complements another SAMHSA document on homelessness, The Blueprint for Change: Ending Chronic Homelessness for Persons with Serious Mental Illnesses and/or Co-Occurring Substance Use Disorders. The Blueprint for Change is designed to help States and local communities develop integrated systems of care to address homelessness among people who have serious mental illnesses and/or co-occurring substance use disorders. The States highlighted in this report already are using many of the principles and practices outlined in the Blueprint. The report provides examples of how States addressing the housing, treatment and support needs of people who are homeless, and can guide others as they address these issues.

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