Anchorage/Matsu Reentry Recovery Linkage Initiative (ARRLI)

Through its host agency NeighborWorks Alaska, and in partnership with COSSUP, BJA and DOH, has launched the Anchorage/Mat-Su Reentry Recovery Linkage Initiative (ARRLI) with direct service funding aimed at supporting justice-involved individuals with substance use or co-occurring disorders as they transition back into Anchorage and Mat-Su communities. ARRLI provides flexible, last-resort financial assistance and coordinated resource navigation to help participants connect to stable housing, treatment, and recovery supports during the critical pre- and post-release period. Through a “Request for Service” application submitted by advocates such as case managers, peer specialists, corrections/court staff or other providers, participants can access help with immediate needs like short-term housing, transportation, phones, treatment costs, or other essentials.

The program serves adults returning from correctional facilities who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, with priority given (but not limited) to Alaska Native/American Indian individuals and adults age 50 and older, who face disproportionate barriers to housing and recovery.

By linking corrections, housing, behavioral health, tribal, and treatment partners, while utilizing AKHMIS for data tracking, ARRLI seeks to strengthen reentry supports, reduce the likelihood of homelessness, and enhance long-term community stability across our region.

SEE BELOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ARRLI

FAQ

#WHAT IS ARRLI?

Request For Service funding and resource navigation system that provides flexible, last-resort financial assistance and/or community resource navigation to justice-involved individuals with substance use disorders during reentry from incarceration. Funds will be used to cover critical, time-sensitive needs, such as transitional housing costs, transportation, cell phone access, treatment fees, and basic necessities, when no other community funding is available, based on applications submitted by workforce and provider advocates.

#What is the Goal of ARRLI?

to reduce rates of criminal justice involvement, substance-related mortality, and immediate homelessness among individuals transitioning from incarceration back into the Anchorage and Matsu Tribal Region. ARRLI will specifically focus on individuals with opioid, stimulant, or polysubstance use disorders, with targeted support for Alaska Native populations and adults aged 50 and older.

#Where is the Funding coming from?

This funding supports Alaska’s Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP), which aims to develop and expand collaborative, community-based efforts that reduce the impact of substance use on involvement with the carceral system by improving linkage to care, housing stability, and community connections for disproportionately affected Alaskans, in partnership with The State of Alaska Department of Health’s Division of Public Health and Bureau Justice Assistance (BJA) Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Site-Based Program dollars.

#How does a participant/advocate access the funds or service?

A participant accesses funds through a Request For Service application that is submitted by their qualified advocate. The advocate completes the ARRLI application describing eligibility and specific needs, and once approved, payments and/or service connection are made on the participant’s behalf for authorized costs like housing, transportation, phones, treatment fees, or basic needs rather than given as cash directly to the individual. If monied services are not requested and community-based case management is needed, the individual will be contacted to initiate warm hand off based on needs identified in the RFS Application.

#Who should complete a Request for Service Application?

A qualified advocate must complete the application on the participant’s behalf, ideally in collaboration with the individual and their recovery goals. This includes community-based treatment providers, housing representatives, peer support advocates, tribal health organizations, corrections staff, or other criminal justice and reentry workforce professionals who can attest to the individual’s needs and reentry and/or recovery and/or treatment plan.
*If the Advocate portion is not completed, the application will not be able to move forward for processing.

#What documentation is needed along with the Request for Service (RFS) Application?

ARRLI goal is to provide services that are timely and flexible to the needs of the participant. Documentation is needed to support that the service is justified to support the recovery of the participant, reduce the likelihood of homelessness, or decrease the chance of recidivism with the carceral system can include but is not limited to: Completed RFS Application, Participant information REQUIRED to complete the process AKHMIS intake form (name, DOB, location, release date, contact details) Referring advocate information (name, organization, role, contact) Eligibility confirmation (justice involvement, SUD/co-occurring condition, homelessness risk, priority population status) Requested services and amounts (e.g., housing, transportation, phone, basic needs, treatment linkage, recovery support) Narrative reentry/recovery plan explaining how the funds will support stability and recovery Coordination and follow-up plan (identified providers, appointments, ongoing supports) proof of release, housing quotes, treatment appointment letters, etc.)

#Who does ARRLI serve?

Eligible participants are justice-involved individuals with substance misuse or co-occurring disorders who are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness due to release from a correctional setting. The program serves Anchorage and Mat-Su residents returning from DOC facilities, halfway houses, or community residential centers, with priority for Alaska Native/American Indian adults, and individuals aged 50 and older.

#Why prioritize these populations?

ARRLI funding/Request For Service applications are open to all adult populations who have correctional setting involvement and self-identify as having a substance misuse (including alcohol) or co-occurring disorder, but targets Alaska Native/American Indian individuals and adults over 50 years of ago because both groups are disproportionately represented in the justice system, represent the fastest increasing segments within both Alaska’s and the Nation’s incarcerated populations, and face higher risks related to recidivism, homelessness, and substance use post-release. Since these populations are statistically among the fastest growing segments focusing flexible reentry supports on these targets specifically it is intended to reduce inequities in outcomes such as recidivism, overdose, and housing instability while still allowing the program to remain accessible to the adult justice-involved population.

#What Services does ARRLI provide?

ARRLI’s service framework includes practical supports to facilitate the placement and access to things such as short term, one time transitional housing, transportation (bus passes), cell phones (digital equity), treatment linkages, and other basic needs items as authorized, and/or a request of Referral/Navigation into community. These supports will be provided when no other community funding sources are available and based upon the recommendation of a community-based treatment provider, housing representative, peer support advocate, tribal health organization, corrections staff, court representatives or other criminal justice workforce member. Each applicant’s qualified advocate will complete a simple but structured application to describe how requested funding supports the individual’s stability, recovery and reintegration plan and once the RFS is accepted, will be entered into the AKHMIS system for data tracking and management.

#Why is a AKHMIS Form Required for ARRLI?

ARRLI is designed to reduce both immediate and longer-term homelessness risk during reentry by covering critical housing-related gaps and stabilizing people quickly. It focuses on the 30 day period after release, when individuals are most likely to enter homelessness because they lack income, awareness of housing referrals, or basic supports.

The initiative helps prevent homelessness by:
-Providing flexible funds for transitional housing, rent support, and related costs when no other resources are available.
-Linking participants to substance use treatment, behavioral health care, and recovery supports that strengthen housing stability over time.
-Coordinating across corrections, housing providers, tribal partners, and peer programs so people are connected to shelter or housing options instead of exiting directly into homelessness

ARRLI also provides a strong opportunity to track justice-involved homelessness because of how the data tracking will be incorporated in the AKHIMS system (Alaska Homeless Information Management System) and based off how the request and approval process is structured for the RFS model. Each Request For Service captures who is being referred to, why they are eligible, what housing or basic needs are requested, and which systems and programs within the community are already involved, creating a built-in data trail. At time of program entry a AKHMIS Intake form will be completed to capture necessary demographic and housing situation data points.

#How long will it take to process a ARRLI Application and funds?

Generally no longer than a business week turnaround, based on accounting and processing times and availability of Coordinator. Application are worked through in the order they are received. Feel free to check on the status by emailing: reentry@nwalaska.org

*Coordinator will reach out to Qualified Advocate first to follow up with next steps.

#What is the basic eligibility to qualify for ARRLI funds?

Adults with a history of justice involvement who are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness following release from a correctional setting.
Individuals with substance use disorders or co-occurring mental health needs.
Residents of Anchorage or the Mat-Su region reentering the community from:
- Department of Corrections facilities
- Halfway houses
- Community residential centers
Participants within 9 months of release from incarceration or with justice involvement in the past 9 months.
Participants who are accessing, or are trying to access Treatment, Recovery or Sober Support in the community.

#What is the "Case Management" Box on the Request for Services Application?

Check this box if the participant requires navigation support within the Anchorage or Mat-Su area. ARRLI is not designed as a long-term or intensive case management program; however, it can provide short-term navigation and a warm handoff to initial treatment, housing, or reentry service providers to support successful community reintegration. Even if the individual doesn't need any financial services, but meets the eligibility, they would qualify for Case Management/Navigation assistance. Please note, requesting funding doesn't mean a individual has to request Case Management with ARRLI!