Why REACH?
REACH (Research Education and Career development in Homelessness) is a national NIH‑funded training program for early‑career researchers who want to make a meaningful impact at the intersection of substance use disorder (SUD), HIV, and homelessness.
If you are a clinical fellow, postdoctoral fellow, or junior faculty member interested in building a research career that is rigorous, community‑engaged, and responsive to real‑world health inequities, REACH is designed for you.
REACH is the first NIH‑funded research training program dedicated specifically to homelessness, offering a unique training environment that integrates academic research, frontline clinical care, and lived experience expertise.
What Does REACH Offer Scholars?
Each year, REACH selects four Scholars for an immersive two‑year fellowship (begining February of each year) focused on developing the skills, mentorship, and networks needed to launch an independent research career.
As a REACH Scholar, you will receive:
- Support to develop pilot work and position yourself for future NIH funding (salary support not included)
- Structured research training tailored to homelessness‑informed SUD and HIV research
- A multidisciplinary mentorship team
- National networking and collaboration opportunities
Training That Meets You Where You Are — and Takes You Further
REACH provides hands‑on, applied research training that explicitly accounts for the realities of conducting research in homeless settings.
Scholars participate in:
- Bi‑annual, in‑person workshops
- Didactic webinars and research‑in‑progress sessions
- On‑the‑ground training at Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) clinical sites
- Exposure to diverse disciplines, methods, and implementation approaches
All training is rooted in the 2022–2026 NIDA Strategic Plan, with a focus on understanding how substance use, HIV, and comorbidities interact within the structural and social context of homelessness.
Learn From the Field — Not Just the Classroom
REACH Scholars gain national, on‑the‑ground exposure to homelessness care systems across the U.S.
Each year, Scholars participate in:
- A workshop held alongside the National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC) Annual Conference, the premier national meeting for homelessness health care leaders
- A second workshop hosted at a rotating Health Care for the Homeless clinical site (urban, rural, and mixed settings)
Through site visits, panels, and working meetings, Scholars learn how to:
- Align research questions with community and clinical priorities
- Design studies that are ethical, feasible, and impactful
- Engage in true bidirectional learning with providers and people with lived experience
A National Network That Lasts Beyond the Fellowship
REACH is intentionally built around cohort‑based learning and peer support.
As a Scholar, you will join a close network of motivated early‑career investigators who:
- Provide feedback on research and grant proposals
- Collaborate on manuscripts and new studies
- Support one another through career transitions
- Build lasting professional relationships
REACH also supports writing workshops and structured networking during national meetings to strengthen collaboration and trust.
Why Join REACH?
Homelessness has increased every year in the U.S. since 2017, exacerbating disparities in SUD and HIV outcomes. Yet many traditional research training programs do not fully prepare investigators to work in homeless settings or to meaningfully engage community expertise.
REACH is different.
By participating in REACH, you will be part of a growing national movement to:
- Advance homelessness‑informed research
- Strengthen the evidence base for improving health outcomes
- Build a multidisciplinary workforce committed to health equity
- Translate research into practice and policy
Who Should Apply?
REACH is designed for clinical fellows, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty who:
- Are early in their research careers
- Have strong support from their home institutions
- Are motivated to pursue NIH‑funded research
- Share a commitment to improving the health of people experiencing homelessness
Scholars come from diverse disciplines and training backgrounds but are united by a common goal: driving meaningful change at the intersection of SUD, HIV, and homelessness.