Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness , known as PATH, is a federal, state and local partnership that provides outreach and assistance to adults with serious mental illness who are experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of becoming homeless. PATH services include community-based outreach, mental health, substance abuse, case management and other supportive services, and a limited set of housing services. Depending on the resources of the local program, PATH may provide one-time financial assistance such as payment of one month’s rent to prevent eviction, assistance with first month’s rent or a security deposit to assist an individual to obtain housing, or other related expenses.
The national PATH Program is administered by the federal 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 United States (US) Department of Health and Human Services. The PATH Program originally was authorized by the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Amendments Act of 1990 and has be re-authorized several times since. 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 more than 500 local organizations that provide PATH services across the country. SAMHSA’s Housing and Homelessness Resource Network assists in providing support through training and technical assistance to the states, territories, and local organizations that administer PATH services.
Virtually all states use PATH funds to provide outreach services to contact and engage people who are disconnected from mainstream resources. The majority of PATH providers across the US offer a wide variety of services to outreach, case management to persons experiencing homelessness.
- 95 percent of providers offer case management services, including assisting with connecting individuals to mainstream benefits and services.
- 95 percent of providers use PATH funds to assist clients in accessing primary health care services, job training, education services, and housing.
- 85 percent of providers assist consumers with navigating the housing application process.
PATH in Virginia
In Virginia, PATH services are provided by Community Services Boards in fourteen communities across the state. Names and contact information for the PATH staff ar
In Virginia, PATH services are provided by Community Services Boards in fourteen communities across the state. The Commonwealth’s plan for utilizing $1,472,215 in federal PATH dollars and more than $900,000 in local funding matched by Virginia PATH providers is located at the following link: Virginia’s Federal Fiscal Year 2022/State Fiscal Year 2023 PATH Application.
Comments on the grant application can be submitted here.
Names and contact information for the PATH staff are listed below.
Alexandria Department of Community and Human Services: Contact Krysta Pearce at 703-746-5973.
Arlington County Department of Human Services, Behavioral Health Services Division: Contact Michael Keen at 703-228-5331.
Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare: Serving the Roanoke area. Contact Kayla Wilhelm at 540-556-0795.
Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board: Contact Neva Ortuno at 703-533-5763.
Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board: Contact Dee Schwartz at 757-240-5288.
Loudoun County Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services: Contact Diane Daddio at 703-737-8702.
Norfolk Community Services Board: Contact Cyndi Katz at 757-646-6363.
Portsmouth Department of Behavioral Healthcare Services: Contact Dean Burgess at 757-393-8928, extension 5733.
Prince William County Community Services: Contact Lynn Fritts at 703-792-7947.
Region Ten Community Services Board: Serving the Charlottesville area. Contact Harrell Patterson at 434-972-1800. Region Ten also partners with On Our Own of Charlottesville, an independent peer-owned and -operated program, to deliver PATH services.
Rappahannock Area Community Services Board: Serving the Fredericksburg area. Contact Jason McIntosh at 540-479-4116, extension 17.
Richmond Behavioral Health Authority: Contact Reggie Hill at 804-819-8756.
Valley Community Services Board: Serving the Staunton and Waynesboro areas. Contact Allison Henry at 540-292-2551.
Virginia Beach Department of Human Services: Contact Kathleen Brooks-Johnson at 757-385-0672.
For more information on Virginia PATH services, contact Monica Spradlin, State PATH Coordinator, at 804-655-4433 at the DBHDS Office of Community Housing.
Access to your community’s homeless crisis response system can be attained via the primary contact number listed here.