225 Housing is Recovery

The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), through its Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR), has released the "225 Housing is Recovery" grant to support housing stabilization for individuals facing serious mental illness or substance use disorders. This pilot initiative aims to mitigate unnecessary institutionalization and homelessness by offering a supportive bridge rental subsidy program, linking housing assistance with access to recovery services. The program leverages partnerships with service providers, housing entities, and referral organizations to create an integrated network that promotes independent, stable living environments for high-risk populations. This grant opportunity is part of the state’s broader strategy to align housing resources with behavioral health services. It targets adults aged 18 or older who are eligible under the Department of Children and Family Services, have a diagnosed mental illness or substance use disorder, and are either homeless or at high risk of institutionalization. Funding supports rental subsidies and engagement services to connect eligible individuals with treatment providers, housing navigation, and recovery supports. Grantees are expected to offer engagement services at least twice a month, with one in-person home visit, and to ensure that recipients apply for permanent assistance through appropriate housing authorities within six months of enrollment. The total program funding available is $8.2 million, with anticipated award amounts ranging from $300,000 to $2,000,000. The Department expects to fund approximately 10 grantees. No cost sharing or matching is required, and indirect costs are permitted without specific restrictions. The expected period of performance for awarded grants begins no sooner than July 1, 2026, and will continue through June 30, 2027, subject to appropriation. Eligible applicants include various divisions of human services, behavioral health, and homelessness providers who meet prequalification and registration requirements through Illinois’ GATA system. Applications must be submitted through the CSA Tracking System and must include a Uniform Application, program narrative, budget, subcontractor budgets (if applicable), and a conflict of interest disclosure. Applicants are also required to be registered with SAM.gov and hold a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). A technical assistance webinar is available on March 3, 2026, but attendance is not mandatory. Questions about the application are due by March 23, 2026. The proposal evaluation will be based on criteria such as population need, applicant capacity, housing and service coordination, and data tracking and reporting. Applicants should clearly outline their experience in serving individuals with mental illness or substance use disorders, their referral relationships with hospitals and shelters, and their housing pipeline. Evaluation will consider the strength of the program's design, sustainability, and ability to meet performance metrics such as the number of consumers placed into housing or transitioned to permanent support. Notifications of award will be issued following this merit-based review process, and all applicants must be prequalified before applying.

Ensure prequalification in GATA and SAM.gov is completed before submission; incomplete registration will lead to disqualification.