Grants for halfway houses are available to nonprofit organizations through a number of federal agencies. The U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Justice have funds available for groups providing housing for the populations they serve.
Instructions
1. Rent or buy the house, as government grants will not cover capital expenses, but pay instead for program and staffing costs. Identify an underserved clientele for the house such as substance abusers, former prison inmates or the developmentally challenged.
2. Invite community leaders who work in the field you are serving to sit on your board of directors. Apply for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status with the federal government. Work with your board of directors to develop fundable programs such as rehab services, community reintegration techniques or long-term family support.
3. Begin taking in tenants or identify potential candidates for residency. Run the programs your organization developed for at least a year before applying for a government grant. Grant agencies look at longevity when screening applications.
4. Develop a detailed plan to describe the programs that need funding. Include information about your board and the type of program you've started or want to start in your house. Describe the population that you serve, any success that you've had with residents that you hope to build on, and statistics that show the needs in your community. Explain how many people you intend to house and what will be the outcome for these residents once they have completed your program.
5. Look for requests for applications and available funding in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance, the Grantmanship Center and other sites that published grant opportunities to find the grant that most suits your needs. Send for the application package and review all the requirements.
6. Gather all the statistics and necessary information to meet the qualifications of the grant-making body. Include statistics on the population and the holes in community services you intend to fill. Describe any success you've had to date and exactly what you hope to achieve with the grant monies. Mail the entire grant package to the agencies paying close attention to deadlines. Send the completed package by registered mail to make sure it reaches its destination in plenty of time.
