SCA GRANTEE SUCCESS STORY: Pima County’s “Pay for Success” Reentry Program Bolsters Housing and Community Safety
This story is part of Second Chance Month 2025. Click to view more on the state and success of the Second Chance Act.
The Pima County “Pay for Success” program is a comprehensive reentry initiative that supports people with a history of justice system involvement, mental illnesses, and substance use disorders.
Operating since 2019 and with the help of Second Chance Act (SCA) funding, the program offers outreach, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing through a decentralized model across multiple properties.
The county also offers other services—case management, health care access, life skills training, transportation, and justice system navigation—all tailored to meet participants’ needs.
SCA funding helps address a critical gap
A prior study found that the program primarily serves unsheltered people who have a self-reported mental illness or substance use disorder and have had multiple jail bookings within the past year.
Through an SCA grant, Pima County fills the need identified in the study by providing an option for people in the criminal justice system who may not otherwise be eligible for local housing programs.
This past June, the “Pay for Success” program was recognized by the National Association of Counties with their annual Achievement Award for "Best in Category" for Criminal Justice and Public Safety—a reflection of the county’s efforts to break the cycle of incarceration and improve community safety.
Partnerships help create strong support networks
Pima County takes a collaborative approach involving county, city, and community partners. This partnership creates a strong referral network, enabling justice system partners to refer clients who might be appropriate for the program.
The program also fills practical gaps that might otherwise prevent participants from succeeding in reentry. For instance, the county provides participants with transportation so they can appear for court dates, attend probation appointments, search for permanent supportive housing, and attend therapy and medical appointments.
People with lived experience in the justice system have significant input into the design and implementation of “Pay for Success.” The program’s peer-to-peer support groups and its community partners’ employment of people with similar experiences provide a unique support system that fosters empathy and real-world guidance.
“It takes a community, and it takes government, along with local agencies,” said one Pima County staff member, “to pool resources, skills, and lived experiences to address and support the needs of our residents.”
Success by the numbers and beyond
Pima County relies on participant input to help shape its programming and update its metrics for success.
“There is not a one-size-fits-all solution to the problems of homelessness, drug addiction, or serious mental illness,” explained another “Pay for Success” staffer.
Despite the challenges, Pima County’s efforts have demonstrated significant success since “Pay for Success” started:
- The program has placed 268 people in supportive housing.
- It is maintaining active involvement or outreach with over 100 participants.
- It is in high demand, with a current waitlist of over 1,600 people.
- Participants have experienced a reduction in the usage of the criminal justice and health care systems; recent metrics show a decline in criminal justice service utilization and associated expenses by more than 50 percent.
Going beyond numbers and metrics, testimonials from participants highlight transformative personal achievements, such as sobriety, employment, and family reunification.
One participant, for example, became certified as a recovery support specialist and has since been hired and promoted by a local behavioral health agency. Another participant has been in recovery for two years from a serious addiction and has returned to school to support herself and her daughter.
Moving forward, Pima County aims to enhance its referral pathways, expand collaborative efforts with local housing coalitions, and regularly seek funding to support and expand its reentry efforts, ensuring sustained, positive outcomes for the people and communities it serves.
