SAMSHA GAINS: Leveraging Homeless Courts and Care Courts to Support Individuals’ Homelessness, Mental Illness, and Substance Use Disorders Needs

The GAINS Center focuses on expanding access to services for people with mental and/or substance use disorders who come into contact with the adult criminal justice system.

Jurisdictions nationwide have implemented homeless courts and care courts as structured responses to the challenges faced by individuals who are homeless, have mental and substance use disorders, and intersect with the criminal justice system. These models emphasize collaborative, cross-system approaches that connect individuals to services to promote recovery and resolve legal barriers to housing, employment, and transportation. This webinar will provide an overview of two programs that demonstrate the homeless court and care court models. Presenters will share Ventura, California’s CARE Act program, including its structure and measurable outcomes. The webinar will also feature the Columbia Homeless Court program, established in 2015, with a focus on its development, operational framework, and data trends. The discussion will highlight how these programs can strengthen system coordination, resolve legal challenges, and improve outcomes for individuals with complex needs.