Recruiting and Retaining an Effective Behavioral Health Workforce to Support People Experiencing Homelessness

2025

Recruiting and retaining an effective behavioral health workforce ensures consistent quality care for people experiencing mental health concerns, people living with substance use disorders, and people experiencing homelessness.

Data indicate that vast workforce shortages and high turnover rates within the field negatively impact outcomes for service recipients. Employers recognize the need to expand their workforce and address high turnover rates for workers on the front lines, particularly those with the lowest wages.

This toolkit addresses:

• Recruiting and supporting people with lived experiences,

• Preventing and addressing turnover for staff,

• Operationalizing recruiting and retaining an effective workforce.