Warning
To protect your privacy, you will be logged out within 5 minutes due to inactivity.
If you would like to stay logged in, simply click "Okay".
 
   
Skip Navigation
Login or register
About Us  
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
About PATH

The PATH program is administered by the Center for Mental Health Services, a component of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), one of eight Public Health Service agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The PATH Program – Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness – was authorized by the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1990.

PATH is a formula grant to the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. There are nearly 600 local organizations that provide PATH services. The Homeless and Housing Resource Network (HHRN) assists SAMHSA in providing support to the state and local providers.

PATH services are for people with serious mental illness, including those with co-occurring substance use disorders, who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless. PATH services include community-based outreach, mental health, substance abuse, case management and other support services, as well as a limited set of housing services.

Virtually all states use PATH funds to provide outreach services to contact and engage people who are disconnected from mainstream resources. Data reveals that PATH funding supported the following services during the 2009-2010 reporting period:
  • 92% of all providers offer outreach to persons experiencing homelessness
  • 90% of all providers offer case management services
  • 80% of all providers assist clients in accessing primary health care services, job training, education services, and housing
  • 72% of all providers assist consumers in applying for housing assistance


PATH Providers are Strong Partners in Their Communities

PATH funds are worth more than their face value because they are matched with State and local resources. For every $3 in Federal funds, State or local agencies must put forward $1 in cash or in-kind services. At a minimum, a $61 million Federal allocation would result in a $20 million match from local communities.

The PATH program is a wide network of State and local agencies that contribute comprehensive community-based services for people who are homeless with serious mental illness. PATH providers engage community mental health centers and other mental health providers, community-based social service agencies, health care providers, substance abuse service providers, and housing programs.

PATH providers and State PATH Contacts are involved in local and regional planning efforts to end homelessness. They collaborate with homeless service providers in the local Continuums of Care, the homeless assistance planning networks of the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). They work on local 10-Year Plans to End Homelessness and other planning efforts to ensure that services are coordinated and available to people experiencing homelessness.



PATH Providers Deliver Innovative Services

PATH providers work with service delivery systems and embrace practices that work by:
  • Partnering with housing first and permanent supporting housing programs;
  • Providing flexible consumer-directed and recovery-oriented services to meet consumers where they are in their recovery;
  • Improving access to benefits, especially through SSI/SSDI Outreach, Advocacy, and Recovery (SOAR);
  • Employing consumers or supporting consumer-run programs;
  • Partnering with medical providers, including Health Care for the Homeless and Community Health Centers to integrate mental health and medical services;
  • Improving access to employment;
  • Using technology such as hand-held PDAs, electronic records, and Homeless Information Management Systems (HMIS) systems. States and Territories also use PATH funds to train local provider staff on effective strategies to assist persons who are homeless with severe mental illness.
States and Territories also use PATH funds to train local provider staff on effective strategies to assist persons who are homeless with severe mental illness.


For more information about the PATH program, please contact us at: .

Tison Thomas, M.S.W.
Director, PATH Program
Homeless Programs Branch
Division of Service Systems Improvement
Center for Mental Health Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services