Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH)
Overview
The Division of Care and Treatment Services is seeking applications for funding to award contracts for the operation of the Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) program. PATH is a federal formula grant, administered by Wisconsin Department of Health Services, that provides services, such as outreach and case management, to individuals experiencing or at imminent risk of homelessness and who also have a serious mental illness or co-occurring disorders.
PATH program services are intended for adults with diagnoses of serious mental illness or co-occurring disorders who are also experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of homelessness.
- A serious mental illness is defined as someone over the age of 18 having (within the past year) a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder that substantially interferes with a person’s life and ability to function.
- A co-occurring disorder is defined as someone experiencing a mental health condition and a substance use disorder at the same time, where the mental health condition and substance use disorder can be diagnosed independently of each other.
- An individual experiencing homelessness is defined as an individual who lacks housing (without regard to whether the individual is a member of a family), including an individual whose primary residence during the night is a supervised public or private facility that provides temporary living accommodations and an individual who is a resident in transitional housing.
- Imminent risk of becoming homeless commonly includes one or more of the following criteria:
- Doubled up living arrangements where the individual’s name is not on a lease
- Living in a condemned building without a place to move
- Having arrears in rent/utility payments
- Receiving an eviction notice without a place to move
- Living in temporary or transitional housing that carries time limits
- Being discharged from a health care or criminal justice institution without a place to live
While a single grantee may have the ability to provide services across Wisconsin, grantee(s) shall not have exclusive rights to provide all services covered during the contract term.
Resources
The following resources are available to provide guidance in preparing applications:
- Wisconsin State PATH Provider Manual (Wisconsin Department of Health Services)
- Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
Eligible applicants
Eligibility requirements are mandatory as of the date the applicant applies.
Any federally recognized Tribal nation governing body, public agency, or non-profit 501(c)(3) agency serving a geographic area with a population of more than 100,000 and providing services within Wisconsin is eligible to apply. Non-profit agencies must be listed as such on the IRS website at the time of application.
Agencies serving a county population of 150,000 or more will receive a higher point value during application scoring. Eligible geographic areas are listed below. Population figures are based on 2025 US Census Bureau data.
Only one contract may be awarded per county except in counties with a population of more than 750,000 (Milwaukee County only), where up to two contracts may be awarded.
County Population Brown 275,803 Dane 590,375 Eau Claire 109,033 Fond du Lac 104,669 Kenosha 168,448 La Crosse 121,339 Marathon 139,432 Milwaukee 924,216 Outagamie 195,894 Racine 198,919 Rock 166,472 Sheboygan 118,047 Walworth 106,127 Washington 139,238 Waukesha 417,210 Winnebago 174,218 Application deadline
October 22, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Estimated number of awards
9
Estimated award amount(s)
Anticipated awards range from approximately $45,000 to $260,000. Awards will vary depending on the program design and area served.
Total funding available
$850,000
Anticipated length of funding opportunity
5 years
Anticipated contract dates
July 1, 2027 – June 30, 2028
July 1, 2028 – June 30, 2029
July 1, 2029 – June 30, 2030
July 1, 2030 – June 30, 2031
July 1, 2031 – June 30, 2032Renewal of the contract each year will be based upon the awardee’s satisfactory performance, satisfactory completion of annual deliverables and grant expectations, audit findings, and the availability of funds.
Match requirement
Grantees are required to match PATH funds directly or indirectly through donations from public or private entities to provide non-federal contributions in an amount that is not less than one dollar for every three dollars (33.3%) of federal PATH funds received. Those funds used for match must directly support/benefit the PATH program and/or PATH clients.
Funding source
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness
Written questions due
September 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Submit written questions about this funding opportunity to DHSDCTSBPTRFundingOpportunities@dhs.wisconsin.gov with the subject line Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH).
Answers posted
October 1, 2026 (estimated)
Award/denial notification timeline
December 7, 2026 (estimated)
Award statement
Award(s) will be made to the responsive and responsible applicant(s) that:
- Attains the highest scored application.
- Best meets the needs of the population of focus.
- Best meets the needs of the people within the state, as determined by DHS.
Application requirements
Applications must include responses to the statements in the narrative response section.
There is a 10-page narrative response maximum. Any information after the page limit will not be read, reviewed, nor scored.
The additional documents do not count toward the narrative response page limit.
Application scoring rubric
Applications are read, reviewed, and scored by an evaluation team using the 100-point scale listed below. For sections with a higher point value, more detail in the response may be needed.
- Section 1: Program design, 25 points
- Section 2: Capacity, 10 points
- Section 3: Experience and knowledge, 10 points
- Section 4: Grant priorities, 50 points total
- Priority one: 10 points
- Priority two: 10 points
- Priority three: 10 points
- Priority four: 10 points
- Priority five: 10 points
- Section 5: Required documents, 5 points
Narrative response
The narrative response describes how you will address the purpose of this funding opportunity. The narrative response must:
- Use a page size of 8.5” x 11”.
- Use a black font.
- Use a font size of at least 11 point.
Arial or Times New Roman are the recommended fonts for the narrative response.
The narrative response is a required component of your application. It must be organized into the following sections.
Maximum points available for this section: 25
Grantees are required to use PATH resources to fund street outreach and case management. PATH programs must prioritize outreach and case management services. Other eligible services may be provided based on unique community needs for services that are not financially supported by mainstream services and/or behavioral health programs. All PATH eligible services should be available to all PATH clients directly or through referral.
PATH eligible services include:
- Outreach services
- Screening and diagnostic treatment services
- Habilitation and rehabilitation services
- Community mental health services
- Alcohol and/or drug treatment services
- Staff training, including training of people who work in shelters, mental health clinics, substance use disorder programs, and other sites where people experiencing homelessness require services
- Case management services, including:
- Preparing a plan for the provision of community mental health services to eligible individuals experiencing homelessness and reviewing such plan not less than once every three months.
- Providing assistance in obtaining and coordinating social and maintenance services for the eligible individuals experiencing homelessness, including services related to daily living activities, personal financial planning, transportation services, and habilitation and rehabilitation services, prevocational and vocational training, and housing services.
- Helping eligible individuals experiencing homelessness obtain income support services, including housing assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.
- Referring eligible individuals experiencing homelessness for such other services as may be appropriate.
- Providing representative payee services in accordance with section 1631(a)(2) of the Social Security Act if the eligible individuals experiencing homelessness are receiving aid under Title XVI of such act and if the applicant is designated by the Secretary to provide such services.
- Supportive and supervisory services in residential settings
- Referrals for primary health services, job training, educational services, and relevant housing services
- Housing services, including:
- Minor renovation, expansion, and repair of housing.
- Planning of housing.
- Technical assistance in applying for housing assistance.
- Improving the coordination of housing services.
- Security deposits.
- Costs associated with matching eligible individuals who are experiencing homelessness with appropriate housing situations.
- Security deposits.
- One-time rental payments to prevent eviction.
Any activities not listed above are ineligible. Specifically, PATH funds may not be used by the grantee to support emergency shelters, inpatient psychiatric treatment, inpatient addiction treatment, or to make cash payments to intended recipients of mental health or substance use treatment services. Any lease arrangements in association with the proposed project utilizing PATH funds may not be funded by PATH beyond the project period nor may the portion of the space leased with PATH funds be used for purposes not supported by the grant. Grant funds may not be used to pay for the purchase or construction of any building or structure to house any part of the grant program. Applicants may not use PATH funds to replace funds provided by any federal, state, or local government to assist people experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of homelessness.
No more than twenty percent (20%) of the entire amount of the federal PATH funds awarded to an agency may be expended for the eligible housing services. Therefore, PATH funds for housing available locally are very limited. When PATH or matching funds are used to pay for first month’s rent or security deposits, the PATH agency must ensure that the housing is safe, suitable, and sanitary through an inspection process.
Describe how program purpose and requirements will be met.
- Address the needs of the population(s) of focus.
- Apply your approach or philosophy toward the issue(s) this funding opportunity seeks to address.
- The geographic area your agency will serve and data to support the need for PATH services in that area.
- How your agency will provide the priority services of street outreach and case management.
- Amount of time a PATH staff will engage in street outreach activities per week, per month.
- How your agency will determine sites that would benefit from street outreach and what types of settings they are (parks, library, bridge, parking garage, etc.).
- How your agency will engage and/or identify individuals who require PATH services.
- How your agency will determine an individual’s eligibility for PATH.
- The projected number of adult clients to be contacted and enrolled, and the percentage of adult clients served using PATH funds to be literally homeless.
- How individuals, who experience homelessness and have serious mental illness, and their family members, will be meaningfully involved at the organizational level in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of PATH-funded services. For example, indicate whether individuals who are PATH-eligible or former PATH recipients are employed as staff or volunteers or serve on governing or formal advisory boards.
Maximum points available for this section: 10
The capacity to do the work and meet the program requirements is different from the experience doing the work.
Describe capacity to implement the program design.
- New or existing staff positions, and any professional licenses they hold, that will work under this grant and the anticipated number of hours per week for each position.
- Recruitment process and the anticipated timeline if hiring new positions.
- Continuation of the program if there is turnover in staff.
- Resources or partnerships and their role in ensuring success of this program.
If subcontractor(s) will be used to perform activities to achieve program goals, describe:
- The extent of the relationship.
- How the subcontractor(s) capacity relates to the overall ability to implement this program.
- Roles, responsibilities, and expectations of the subcontractor(s).
- Experience managing and monitoring subcontractor(s).
Maximum points available for this section: 10
The minimum responsibilities and expectations of PATH providers are listed below.
Describe experience with, and/or knowledge similar to, this program.
- Providing services, conducting activities, and/or fulfilling requirements.
- Collecting and using data or other information to determine if efforts had an impact.
- Hiring, training, and supervising staff with specialized knowledge or licensure. Include:
- Special skills that PATH staff will possess.
- How newly hired PATH staff will be trained.
- Providing training for staff in outreach, engagement, motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care (TIC), recovery, person-centered thinking, crisis response and suicide prevention (e.g., applied suicide intervention skills training), and critical time intervention (CTI).
- Providing street outreach, engagement, and case management with people who are experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of homelessness and have a serious mental illness.
If you will be using subcontractor(s) to perform activities to achieve program goals, describe their experience with, and/or knowledge similar to, this program:
- Providing services, conducting activities, and/or fulfilling requirements.
- Building relationships with and/or working with the population(s) of focus or similar population(s).
- Collecting and using data or other information to determine if efforts had an impact.
- Hiring, training, and supervising staff with specialized knowledge or licensure. Include:
- Special skills that PATH staff will possess.
- How newly hired PATH staff will be trained.
- Providing training for staff in outreach, engagement, motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care (TIC), recovery, person-centered thinking, crisis response and suicide prevention (e.g., applied suicide intervention skills training), and critical time intervention (CTI).
- Providing street outreach, engagement, and case management with people who are experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of homelessness and have a serious mental illness.
Maximum points available for this section: 50 total
Priority one
Maximum points available for priority one: 10
It is crucial for PATH providers to establish relationships with the local continuum of care, housing authorities, landlords, faith-based organizations, and other agencies/organizations providing services and supports to individuals who are experiencing homelessness or at imminent risk of homelessness.
Describe your relationships or plans to establish connections with the agencies and organizations listed above.
Priority two
Maximum points available for priority two: 10
PATH providers should ensure that individuals enrolled in PATH are transitioned to mainstream services, with the understanding that these services will remain available to the participant after their transition out of homelessness.
The PATH program encourages a focus on sustainable mental health services and housing. Other mainstream services of importance are services that provide health care, substance use treatment, employment/vocational training, community connection, support, and resources for daily needs.
Describe how you will connect individuals enrolled in PATH to mental health and other needed services.
Priority three
Maximum points available for priority three: 10
PATH providers are responsible for prioritizing PATH services to veterans and individuals experiencing chronic homelessness who meet PATH eligibility.
Describe how you will prioritize PATH services for veterans and individuals experiencing chronic homelessness.
Priority four
Maximum points available for priority four: 10
Describe your geographic location and if the area of service has a population of 150,000 or more.
Priority five
Maximum points available for priority five: 10
PATH providers are expected to integrate SAMHSA’s definition and principles of recovery (PDF) into their programs to the greatest possible extent.
Describe how you will integrate principles of recovery into the PATH program.
Maximum points available for this section: 5
The following documents must be submitted with the narrative response. These documents do not count toward the narrative response page limit.
- IRS Form W-9
- Line-Item Budget (Form F-01601-C) outlining the costs for the first year
- Documentation of match source
Reporting requirements
Recipients of this funding are required to follow all reporting requirements defined by DHS, including:
- Services tracked in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). All necessary fees must be paid, applicable training must be attended, and appropriate procedures must be followed.
- Performance reporting with due dates to be set in writing using the PATH Data Exchange (PDX) portal for the State of Wisconsin and SAMHSA, unless otherwise stipulated in writing by DHS.
- Expense reporting forms submitted monthly in a format approved by DHS for both general grant funds and local match funds. Supporting documents for PATH grant expenditures are required.
- Annual on-site reviews by DHS staff that require site visit forms, a PATH chart review, and a PATH client interview.
- Client charts that include documentation of PATH eligibility, intake documents, quarterly service plan, and progress notes.
Application submission
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. October 22, 2026.
Applications must include the narrative response and the additional documents outlined in the application requirements section.
By submitting an application, the applicant acknowledges the Grant Funding Opportunities: Definitions and Legal Requirements are part of this funding opportunity.
Submit applications to DHSDCTSBPTRFundingOpportunities@dhs.wisconsin.gov with the subject line Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH).