Housing & Homelessness

Successful reentry – and communities that are safer and healthier – depends on justice-involved people having a place to call home. But that’s only the first step.

Overview

What We Do

Amity Foundation provides permanent supportive housing, residential treatment, transitional housing, and outreach services to people who are unhoused or at risk of homelessness – with a particular focus on individuals leaving incarceration, those in recovery, and families facing housing instability.

Where We Work

Tucson, AZ: Our Dragonfly Housing Community offers 39 units of permanent supportive housing connected to Amity’s Circle Tree Ranch campus.
Los Angeles, CA
Across Amity Campuses: Residential treatment facilities in California and Arizona provide housing integrated with treatment programming for students in the reentry process.

Who We Serve

Chronically unhoused individuals – especially those trapped in an endless cycle of homelessness to incarceration and back again, justice-involved people transitioning from incarceration; adults and families in recovery from substance use disorder; individuals with behavioral health needs requiring integrated housing and treatment support.

Core Services

Permanent supportive housing with on-site supportive services
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) services co-located with housing
Street outreach, homeless navigation, and housing placement
Case management, transportation assistance, and benefits enrollment
Connection to employment, behavioral health, and family services
Residential treatment across Amity campuses serving students in the MCRP/FCRP and other programs.

Our Approach

Stability – a safe place to sleep, a community to come home to – is foundational to recovery and reentry for our students. That’s why Amity Foundation builds treatment services into every housing project.

Formerly incarcerated people in California are nearly ten times more likely to be unstably housed or homeless than the general population. Homelessness dramatically increases the risk of recidivism, and the cycle reinforces itself: without housing, people can’t sustain treatment; without treatment, housing is harder to keep. Community-based reentry programs that combine housing with supportive services have reduced recidivism by roughly one-third.

Amity’s model is built around that vital integration.

Dragonfly Housing Community

Amity been interested in homelessness for many decades. This beautiful campus offers 39 units of permanent supportive housing for any qualified individual, veteran or family, offering access to opportunities, job readiness and transportation. Students participate in counseling that addresses trauma and substance abuse. Students participate in a full spectrum of services central to education, health, wellness, career readiness, and adult education.

Supportive Services Offered at Dragonfly Village:

Strength based case management & counseling
Day & evening curriculum (substance abuse & trauma informed circles & activities)
12 step meetings & workshops
Adult Education classes, GED assessments, testing & tutoring
Job readiness training and vocational training access
Health & wellness (yoga, zumba, mindfulness classes)
Housing assistance & transportation services
Medical care, childcare and mental healthcare resources
Food & clothing

Just In Reach

Los Angeles County

Breaking the cycle of homelessness in Los Angeles is about so much more than building more housing – it’s also about providing chronically unhoused individuals with the care and support they need to break the cycle for good. Amity’s Just In Reach program meets people where they are: on the street, in encampments, and in transitional spaces across LA County. Just In Reach provides outreach, housing navigation, case management, and connection services – with a focus on the people whose needs have historically been hardest for the system to meet.

Vista Ranch Expansion

San Diego County

Vista Ranch in San Diego County will undergo expansion and renovation to add 40 new adult residential treatment beds, increasing the campus capacity to 100 beds. This project will include new construction of administrative office space, gathering and treatment spaces, a new facility maintenance building, and a commercial kitchen, as well as renovation of the existing dining area. These projects increase the statewide capacity to provide behavioral health services to justice-impacted populations, and advance Amity Foundation’s mission to serve marginalized populations and build healthy and safe communities.

BHCIP Construction

A statewide initiative of the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) advances California’s intent to build, acquire, and expand facilities for mental health and substance use disorder treatment. Through a competitive application process, Amity Foundation was awarded a total of $58.7 million dollars for two capital projects that will serve the reentry population. The Youth Residential Community Campus in Los Angeles will create 60 new beds to serve young men (ages 18-26) returning from incarceration and support behavioral health services with employment and housing navigation. The facility is Amity’s first ground-up construction project, with projected groundbreaking in late 2026.

Chavez Ranch

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Marcela Gardens and Ruth Teague Homes

Two adjacent Main Street communities: Ruth Teague Homes (52 units) serves homeless families, transition-age youth, and veterans with on-site mental health and healthcare; Marcella Gardens (60 units) reserves half its units for transition-age youth (18–24), with rents at 30–50% of area median income.

The Impact of Just In Reach

Alan Richards, a Los Angeles native, is a living testament to the impact of Amity Foundation’s approach. Alan first came to Amity in 2006, seeking reentry services after experiencing homelessness and incarceration. Recognized for his leadership potential, he was hired in 2008 and has since used his lived experience to design and implement inclusive, effective programs. Now serving as Amity’s Los Angeles Regional Administrator, Alan oversees multiple projects, most notably the Just In Reach program, which uses a housing-first model to stabilize high-need individuals returning from incarceration, reduce recidivism, and lower public system costs. Celebrated across Los Angeles for his dedication to empowering others, Alan continues to lead by example – a driving force advancing Amity’s mission in our communities.