Realistic Education in Action Coalition to foster Health (REACH LA) in collaboration with Arming Minorities Against Addiction and Disease (AMAAD) is applying for SAMSHA FY 2023 Grants for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals in Los Angeles County, California. REACH LA will provide comprehensive, coordinated, and evidence-based services for Black and Latinx youth and families with substance use disorders (SUDs) or co-occurring mental health conditions and SUDs (CODs) who are experiencing homelessness. For over 30 years, REACH LA has been a trusted community organization that has engaged and empowered young Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ in the Downtown Corridor Produce District near Skid Row and is centrally located between South LA (SPA 6), East LA (SPA 7), and Pomona (SPA 3). REACH LA serves 2,000 LGBTQ+ youth of color annually between the ages of 13-35 years old. For 13 years, AMAAD has been a fundamental grassroots nonprofit Recovery Community Organization for Black LGBTQ+ individuals. AMAAD operates 2 transitional housing units and has its DHCS Certification for Outpatient Services for Drug-Medi-Cal. With SAMHSA funding, REACH LA and AMAAD will 1) engage and connect the population of focus to behavioral health treatment, harm reduction services, case management, and recovery support services; 2) Assist with identifying sustainable permanent housing by collaborating with homeless services organizations and housing providers, including public housing agencies; and 3) Provide case management that includes care coordination/service delivery planning and other strategies that support stability across services and housing transitions. Motivational Interviewing, Intensive Case Management, and Harm Reduction evidence based practices will be integrated into the program. On a yearly basis, REACH LA in collaboration AMAAD will reach 125-150 persons providing them with Case Management, Mental Health, and/or Substance treatment. Over the 5-year project period, REACH LA will serve 700 Black and Latinx youth and young adults experiencing homelessness. The goals of the program are to: 1) improve linkages to sustainable permanent housing by implementing a community infrastructure that integrates behavioral health treatment, peer support, recovery support services, and linkages to sustainable permanent housing and 2) improve access to and delivery of coordinated, comprehensive services to reduce substance use and improve housing stability for Black and Latinx youth and young adults with substance use disorders (SUDs) or co-occurring mental health conditions and SUDs (CODs) who are experiencing homelessness.
