Nebraska Investment Nebraska Investment Finance AuthorityFinance Authority

Housing Innovation MarketplaceHousing Innovation MarketplaceJanuary,January, 20 201111

Heather ArmstrongHeather ArmstrongCommunity Corrections Improvement AssociationCommunity Corrections Improvement Association

Re-entry Housing:Re-entry Housing:Problem or CRISIS?Problem or CRISIS?

• At the end of 2009 there were 1.6 million (1/199 At the end of 2009 there were 1.6 million (1/199 US residents) prisoners being held in State & US residents) prisoners being held in State & Federal corrections facilities. Over 95% of these Federal corrections facilities. Over 95% of these will be released to their community at some point.will be released to their community at some point.

• In 2009 there were 729,295 offenders released In 2009 there were 729,295 offenders released from State/Federal prison (20% increase from from State/Federal prison (20% increase from 2000).2000).

• According to a study by the Vera Institute of According to a study by the Vera Institute of Justice, people released from prison and jail to Justice, people released from prison and jail to parole who entered homeless shelters in New York parole who entered homeless shelters in New York City were seven times more likely to abscond City were seven times more likely to abscond during the first month after release than those who during the first month after release than those who had some form of housing.had some form of housing.

Housing challenges faced by Housing challenges faced by ex-offenders released into the ex-offenders released into the

communitycommunity• Rejection from friends and familiesRejection from friends and families• Refusal by private landlordsRefusal by private landlords• Intensive screening from affordable housing Intensive screening from affordable housing

providers:providers:• It is the policy that even those with lesser, non-It is the policy that even those with lesser, non-

violent charges (ex: 4violent charges (ex: 4thth/5/5thth degree theft) are degree theft) are ineligible for our community’s low-income ineligible for our community’s low-income housing for one year after conviction.housing for one year after conviction.

• Those with drug charges are ineligible for five Those with drug charges are ineligible for five years.years.

Challenges, cont….Challenges, cont….

• According to HUD rules, being in an According to HUD rules, being in an institution of any kind and not having institution of any kind and not having a home to be released to is a home to be released to is not not considered being homeless.considered being homeless.

Unfortunately, many ex-offenders are Unfortunately, many ex-offenders are “coming home” straight to “coming home” straight to emergency shelters and the street.emergency shelters and the street.

Some problems these challenges create:Some problems these challenges create:• They are unable to find suitable, They are unable to find suitable,

permanent housingpermanent housing• Absence of stable housing is a leading Absence of stable housing is a leading

predictor for future violent crimepredictor for future violent crime• They are unable to reunite with their They are unable to reunite with their

familiesfamilies• Leads them to live in undesirable and Leads them to live in undesirable and

(many times) unsafe environments(many times) unsafe environments• Limits the quality of treatment services Limits the quality of treatment services

and supervision available to themand supervision available to them• Restricts access to valuable resources and Restricts access to valuable resources and

services to the familyservices to the family

What does the public want?What does the public want?

• Safety from violent crimeSafety from violent crime• Offender to be accountableOffender to be accountable• Damage to be repairedDamage to be repaired• Treatment for offenderTreatment for offender• Involvement in decision makingInvolvement in decision making• Fiscal responsibility & cooperationFiscal responsibility & cooperation

CCIA / CHI PartnershipCCIA / CHI Partnership

Community Housing Initiatives (CHI):Community Housing Initiatives (CHI):““create partnerships with … private and public create partnerships with … private and public

sectors in order to enhance peoples’ lives … sectors in order to enhance peoples’ lives … through the development … of affordable housing”through the development … of affordable housing”

Community Corrections Improvement Community Corrections Improvement Association (CCIA):Association (CCIA):““to establish and embrace pro-active programs that to establish and embrace pro-active programs that

break the cycle of dysfunction for the family”break the cycle of dysfunction for the family”

Home to Stay ComplexHome to Stay ComplexA four building, 24-unit apartment complexA four building, 24-unit apartment complex

• Six 1-bedroom unitsSix 1-bedroom units• Six 2-bedroom unitsSix 2-bedroom units• Ten 3-bedroom unitsTen 3-bedroom units• Two 4-bedroom unitsTwo 4-bedroom units

• 2,500 square foot community service building2,500 square foot community service building• Large community room with kitchen, conference Large community room with kitchen, conference

room, computer lab & restroomsroom, computer lab & restrooms• Three offices for supportive service staff, including a Three offices for supportive service staff, including a

probation/parole officerprobation/parole officer• Building permits visibility to all tenant dwelling Building permits visibility to all tenant dwelling

entrances, main property entrance and secured play entrances, main property entrance and secured play areaarea

Home to Stay ProgramHome to Stay Program• Home to Stay targets families with children

who have a member re-entering the community from a correctional facility or with a criminal record that excludes them from other low-income housing.

• Comprehensive supportive service family plan is designed for each family unit and referrals made to appropriate service providers.

• Probation/Parole officer on site to provide immediate access to services/supervision and an additional level of security for tenants.

BenefitsBenefits

• Family unit stays togetherFamily unit stays together• Cost is less for entire family than what Cost is less for entire family than what

they pay to stay in the correctional they pay to stay in the correctional facilityfacility

• Family unit is able to receive support and Family unit is able to receive support and wrap-around services including treatment wrap-around services including treatment programs, workforce development, programs, workforce development, parenting classes, child care, etc.parenting classes, child care, etc.

• Safe and structured setting with Safe and structured setting with probation offices on siteprobation offices on site

First Year Challenges First Year Challenges

• No history of stable housingNo history of stable housing• Accountability / trustAccountability / trust• Rental/Utility depositsRental/Utility deposits

StrategiesStrategies

• Re-entry process beginning as early as Re-entry process beginning as early as 12-18 months prior to release12-18 months prior to release

• Assess needs and work with Assess needs and work with family/community/offenderfamily/community/offender

• Halfway house to work release to paroleHalfway house to work release to parole• Banking systemBanking system• Program participationProgram participation

Funding for Home to Stay Funding for Home to Stay was provided by:was provided by:

• City of Cedar Rapids Housing City of Cedar Rapids Housing ServicesServices

• Hall-Perrine FoundationHall-Perrine Foundation• Iowa Department of Economic Iowa Department of Economic

DevelopmentDevelopment• Iowa Finance AuthorityIowa Finance Authority• Midwest Housing Equity GroupMidwest Housing Equity Group