In 2021, in ESSB 5092- sec. 129(123), p. 73, the Washington State Legislature created the Reentry Grant Program, appropriating $5 million to the Department of Commerce “to administer a competitive grant program for grants to community-based programs to provide reentry services for formerly incarcerated persons and supports to facilitate successful transitions to the community.”  For the two-year period from July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023, the Program supported 25 organizations across the state.

The Legislature reauthorized the Reentry Grant Program for two years beginning July 1, 2023. That appropriation will be supplemented by additional funding from the Community Reinvestment Account.

At least 30 percent of the funding for the Reentry Grant Program is designated for programs delivering services in Washington’s rural counties. The collective service area for the projects funded under the first round of grants included 24 out of the 39 Washington counties.

The current contracts under the Reentry Grant Program will expire on June 30, 2023. New funding opportunities for the Reentry Grant Program are available. Commerce has issued a Request for Proposals to fund reentry services in the next two fiscal years (August 8, 2023 – June 30, 2024 and July 1, 2024—June 30, 2025). These new grants will support reentry services for currently or formally incarcerated people who have exited juvenile or adult correctional facilities in Washington.