Opportunity Overview
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services Division of Care and Treatment Services is accepting applications for the 2027–2032 Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) funding cycle. PATH is a federal formula grant administered by Wisconsin DHS to support outreach, case management, and other eligible services for adults who have serious mental illness or co-occurring disorders and are experiencing homelessness or are at imminent risk of homelessness.
Funding and Deadline
DHS has $850,000 available and anticipates nine awards ranging from approximately $45,000 to $260,000, depending on program design and area served. Applications are due October 22, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Central Time. Wisconsin DHS states on its Current Grant Funding Opportunities page that listed due-date times are Central Time.
The anticipated funding period is five years, with annual contract renewal based on satisfactory performance, deliverables, audit findings, and continued availability of funds. The first anticipated contract year is July 1, 2027 through June 30, 2028.
Eligible Applicants and Geography
Eligible applicants are federally recognized Tribal nation governing bodies, public agencies, and nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations that serve a geographic area with a population greater than 100,000 and provide services in Wisconsin. Nonprofit applicants must be listed as nonprofit organizations on the IRS website when they apply. Areas serving a population of 150,000 or more receive additional scoring value.
DHS identifies eligible county service areas as Brown, Dane, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Kenosha, La Crosse, Marathon, Milwaukee, Outagamie, Racine, Rock, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, and Winnebago. Only one contract may be awarded per county except Milwaukee County, where up to two contracts may be awarded because its population exceeds 750,000.
Match Requirement
A mandatory nonfederal contribution is required. Grantees must provide at least $1 in nonfederal contributions for every $3 of federal PATH funds received, equal to a 33.3 percent match relative to the federal PATH award. Match funds must directly support or benefit the PATH program and/or PATH clients. The application must include documentation of the match source.
Program Design and Allowable Services
PATH grantees must prioritize street outreach and case management. Other eligible services may be provided based on community need and include screening and diagnostic treatment services, habilitation and rehabilitation, community mental health services, alcohol and drug treatment, staff training, case management, supportive and supervisory services in residential settings, referrals for primary health care and other mainstream services, and limited eligible housing services.
PATH funds may not be used for emergency shelters, inpatient psychiatric treatment, inpatient addiction treatment, cash payments to intended recipients of mental health or substance use treatment services, purchase or construction of buildings, or supplanting other government homelessness funds. No more than 20 percent of the federal PATH award may be spent on eligible housing services.
Application Requirements
The narrative response is limited to 10 pages on 8.5 by 11 inch pages, using black font of at least 11 point. DHS recommends Arial or Times New Roman. Applications are scored on program design, capacity, experience and knowledge, five grant priorities, and required documents.
The five scored priorities address: relationships with the local continuum of care, housing authorities, landlords, faith based organizations, and other service organizations; transition of participants to sustainable mainstream mental health and other services; prioritization of Veterans and people experiencing chronic homelessness; service geography and whether it serves 150,000 or more people; and integration of SAMHSA recovery principles.
The required documents submitted with the narrative are:
- IRS Form W-9.
- Wisconsin DHS Line-Item Budget, Form F-01601-C, for the first year.
- Documentation of the match source.
Submission and Questions
Applications must be emailed to DHSDCTSBPTRFundingOpportunities@dhs.wisconsin.gov with the subject line Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH). Applications must include the narrative response and all required documents. Applicants also acknowledge the Wisconsin DHS Grant Funding Opportunities Definitions and Legal Requirements as part of the solicitation.
Written questions are due September 17, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. to the same DHS email address using the same subject line. DHS posted answers on September 28, 2026.
Reporting Requirements
Awardees must comply with DHS PATH reporting requirements, including Homeless Management Information System tracking, PATH Data Exchange reporting unless otherwise stipulated, monthly expense reporting for both grant and match funds with supporting documentation, annual DHS on site reviews, and client chart documentation of PATH eligibility, intake, service plans, and progress notes.
Atlas Fit Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 84/100. PATH is highly relevant to Wisconsin behavioral health, homelessness response, serious mental illness, co-occurring substance use conditions, care coordination, and referrals to primary health services. The mandatory match and specialized PATH experience requirements narrow the realistic applicant pool.
Although PATH may include referrals for primary health services and certain screening or diagnostic treatment services, the controlling solicitation is centered on street outreach, case management, behavioral health, housing coordination, and transition to mainstream services. The project scope should follow those published program priorities rather than adding an unrelated technology component.
The viable Atlas role is applicant grant support for qualified Wisconsin organizations with verified PATH service capacity and a legitimate nonfederal match source.
Controlling Source
Use the Wisconsin DHS Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness solicitation page, its linked Wisconsin State PATH Provider Manual, Form F-01601-C, and DHS Grant Funding Opportunities Definitions and Legal Requirements as the controlling materials. Applicants should review any posted answers or amendments before submission.