Tuesday, April 29, 2025
4/29/2025
Break-Free Cincinnati - Abstract: Break-Free Cincinnati Break-Free Cincinnati (Break-Free) is a collaboration between Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services (GCB), a comprehensive behavioral health agency, and Strategies to End Homelessness (STEH), the leader of the coordinated system of care for the homeless. GCB and STEH have collaborated for 10 years to provide housing and services to the region’s most vulnerable and underserved populations. Break-Free will provide integrated housing, behavioral health treatment, and employment services to substance-abusing adults experiencing homelessness in Cincinnati, OH. A significant portion of homeless adults do not link to housing and among those who do, one-third return to homelessness. Behavioral health issues, coupled with a lack of permanent housing that supports recovery, negatively impact housing placement and retention. Concurrently, treatment access issues, service gaps, and funding constraints limit access and retention in treatment and support services essential to recovery. Break-Free will address critical gaps in the current continuum that leave homeless substance abusers underserved. Break-Free will house and provide individualized services to 200 clients over the five-year project (30 in Yr. 1, 43 in Yr. 2, 43 in Yr. 3, 42 in Yr. 4, and 42 in Yr. 5) and will: Goal 1: Expand access to permanent housing that supports recovery by conducting outreach and adopting a Housing First model to link clients to permanent housing that supports recovery; Goal 2: Expand access to substance abuse treatment and recovery support services to include case management, benefits enrollment, outpatient treatment, employment services, and linkage to primary care; Goal 3: Improve housing and recovery outcomes specific to housing retention, treatment completion, employment, and employment retention, and; Goal 4: Develop a sustainable housing and service model that supports recovery for homeless substance abusers via information technology enhancements and expanded funding for treatment and employment services. Key interventions include: Housing First, Critical Time Intervention, Motivational Interviewing, Medication-assisted Treatment, and Individual Placement and Support – Supported Employment. Break-Free’s population of focus includes both African American (60%) and White (37%) clients, and is comprised of more men (69%) than women. 59% are between 18-44 years of age. Target clients are economically disadvantaged. 32% are uninsured and 53% have Medicaid. Physical and behavioral health needs are extensive. 35% report a chronic health condition, 42% a mental health problem, and 40% alcohol/drug abuse. GCB is poised to impact an underserved population within the homeless continuum of care and improve housing and recovery outcomes. GCB has the capacity, experience, and partnerships to enhance the coordination of housing, treatment, and support services to create a seamless continuum that offers all homeless persons access to the housing and supports needed to reduce homelessness and promote recovery.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).