06/26/2026
Happy Friday, everyone.
As our fiscal year is ending, I would like to share some of our successes over the last year.
Over the last year, we have provided services to 317 individuals in the many programs that REAP provides.
REAP is now embarking on its fourteenth year of providing services to returning citizens and homeless individuals in the Northwest Florida area. To date, REAP has provided services to more than 3250 returning citizens in its re-entry program and similar services to more than 1,000 individuals who meet the definition of “homeless or in imminent danger of becoming homeless.” REAP currently has twenty-three (23) houses in its inventory, and over the last year, REAP has added two new leased houses to the program. Most importantly, our programs are successful in assisting individuals to regain their independence and self-sufficiency by becoming productive citizens and neighbors.
For our re-entry clients, the success rate is 90% as calculated by the Florida Department of Corrections, meaning that the individuals are not readmitted to prison for a new conviction or post-release supervision violation within two years of their joining the REAP program. For our unhoused clients, the majority successfully transition to supported housing and independence. In the past year, REAP added two new leased houses to the Re-Entry program.
In March 2026, REAP was awarded a grant from Opening Doors for a Rapid Rehousing Program, which provided incentive money to property owners to sign leases with homeless individuals by providing funds for first and last month's rent, security deposits, and utility deposits. As designed, this program focused on providing move-in funding for homeless individuals and families who had regular income but lacked the immediate up-front funds to move into permanent housing. This program successfully placed previously homeless individuals and families into permanent housing. In this recent program, a total of twenty-two (22) homeless individuals were placed in permanent housing.
In January 2026, REAP started an OPIOID abatement program that offers to connect program participants to outpatient substance use disorder (SUD) treatment providers to reduce opioid dependency and abuse within our community. Distinctively, REAP’s program focuses on the needs of previously incarcerated individuals as well as justice-involved people with opioid-related dependencies. This program highlights recovery assistance support structures such as peer-to-peer therapy, local healthcare providers, supportive transitional housing, and employment opportunities with our local employers, along with job training services in cooperation with Career Source EscaRosa.
In June 2026, REAP will open New Horizons Village Phase 1, a 14-unit "tiny home village" in cooperation with the City of Pensacola and Opening Doors. New Horizons Village will provide single-unit occupancy and case management. A second phase of thirteen (13) additional units is scheduled to open in October 2026.
REAP relies on local community support from individuals, businesses, and foundations to provide the necessary funds to cover our day-to-day operations. If you would like to contribute, your generosity can make a meaningful difference by helping us to ensure that these critical community needs continue to be met.
