NLIHC Grant Opportunity to Support State and Local Efforts Expanding Housing Access for Formerly Incarcerated and Convicted People and Their Families

The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) has announced a new grant opportunity for state- and local-level organizations aimed at increasing housing access for formerly incarcerated and convicted individuals and their families. This opportunity is part of the Partnership for Just Housing (PJH), a collaborative initiative convened by NLIHC, the Shriver Center on Poverty Law, the Formerly Incarcerated Convicted People and Families Movement (FICPFM), and the National Housing Law Project (NHLP). PJH is focused on advocating for the removal of housing discrimination against individuals impacted by the criminal justice system. Through this partnership, NLIHC seeks to support local and state-level organizations that are committed to advancing policies that remove barriers to housing and foster opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals to access safe and affordable housing.

The purpose of this grant is to support organizations that are working on policy efforts to increase housing access for formerly incarcerated and convicted people, including advocating for fair chance housing laws and ordinances. Eligible organizations will be expected to directly engage formerly incarcerated individuals in the policy-making and advocacy process. The goal is to ensure that those with lived experience are actively involved in shaping policies that affect their access to housing. Additionally, selected organizations will work closely with state or local lawmakers to promote housing policies that are inclusive and equitable for formerly incarcerated individuals.

Two organizations will be selected to receive this grant, each receiving $50,000 per year for a two-year period. In addition to financial support, grantees will benefit from cohort learning experiences with other grantees and gain access to technical assistance, resources, and networks provided by NLIHC, PJH, and their affiliates. This collaborative support aims to enhance the grantees’ ability to achieve meaningful policy changes at the local and state levels.

Eligibility for this grant is limited to state, local, or regional organizations, with a clear commitment to PJH’s goals and values, particularly the active involvement of formerly incarcerated and convicted individuals in policy advocacy. Organizations must be focused on advancing housing access for these individuals and committed to ending the cycle of incarceration and homelessness. Preference will be given to organizations led by or employing people with lived experience of incarceration, as their insights are considered vital to the work of reforming housing policies for this community.

Applications for this grant are due by March 3, 2025, and grantees will be selected by April 4, 2025. Grantees will be required to submit biannual reports documenting the use of grant funds and detailing the impact of their advocacy efforts with state or local lawmakers. Interested applicants can submit applications either through an online form or via email to Kim Johnson, NLIHC’s manager of policy, at kjohnson@nlihc.org.