what is reentry housing and what makes it a “hot topic” “ housing is the cornerstone of...

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What is reentry housing and what makes it a “hot topic”

“ Housing is the cornerstone of reentry: The indispensable and fundamental basis upon which prisoners begin to build new lives. Housing programs that target this group do a great service to the population at large in securing and enhancing public safety.”

** No Place Like Home: Housing and the Ex-Prisoner (white paper), Community Resources for Justice, Boston, MA, November 2001



Types of Housing

•Housing first•Housing ready•Low demand•High demand•Shelter•Scattered sites

•Half-way house•Transitional•Permanent supportive•Shelter Plus Care



The Statistics

• Right now 2,200,000 people are locked up across the country in county, federal and state custody

• More than 672,000 people are released from state and federal prison every year

• This does not include jails - more than 4 times as many released from jails

• More prisoners are returning home - more time behind bars; less prepared for reintegration

• Nearly 2/3 of released prisoners are expected to re-offended with a felony or serious misdemeanor within 3 years of release



The Statistics

• Rural jails make up the majority of over 3,350 jails in America

• The number of people released from prison has increased 350% over the last 20 years.

• More than 10% of those entering prisons/jail are homeless in the months prior to their incarceration

• For mentally ill, 20% were homeless prior to incarceration

• 49% of homeless adults spent 5+ days in jail and 18% have been incarcerated in state/federal prisons



The Statistics

• In 2003, Ohio spent $2,279,090,000 from the state system on corrections

• This would support 126,616 units of supportive housing

• This does not include local police and courts or federal costs - 1/3 of costs if same as rest of country

• Ohio DRC has 32 institutions confining approximately 46,000 inmates



Re-entry… the Challenges• In the 80’s & 90’s, truth-in-sentencing laws

were passed - eliminating the parole board role. Most prisoners now are released “automatically” under mandatory release, and more prisoners are serving full term and are released without supervision.

• There are thousands of people that cycle in and out of jail, prison, mental health institutions, detox, shelters, emergency rooms and the streets.

• The recidivism rate for this group is exceptionally high.



Re-entry… the Challenges

• Public costs of these outcomes is huge.

• These individuals need comprehensive support in order to succeed.

• Rural homeless are more likely to have been incarcerated than urban homeless




• Substance abuse– 80% of state prison population report

history of AOD use; – 50% of prisoners report they were on

AOD when they committed the offense

• Physical health– Releases with chronic conditions: 16%

AIDS; 22-31% HIV; 20-26% HIV/AIDS; 12-16% Hep B; 29-32% Hep C; 38% TB




• Mental Illness– 8-16% of state prison population report at

least one serious mental disorder– 1/3 of mentally ill inmates admit to history

of alcohol dependence and 60% admit they were under the influence when committing their offense

– Mentally ill prisoners were more likely to have been homeless before incarceration and on average serve 15 months longer in prison than other inmates.



Rural… the Challenges

• Less likely to have access to private and public services

• Often must travel to “urban” area to access resources

• More likely to be economically limited - rural residents earn less

• Acquaintance density - known by the community

• More difficult to find due to living in abandoned farmhouses or other structures - many lacking utilities



Rural Re-entry

Challenges•Meeting basic survival needs

• Shelter• Employment• Physical/mental

health treatment

Qualities•Rural residents tend to deal with problems on their own or seek assistance from friends & family



Contributing Factors…

• Ex-offenders face the same social and economic conditions that lead to homelessness in the general population - rural poverty rates are higher than urban

• Ex-offenders confront barriers to housing associated with their criminal justice system involvement

• Lack of ownership of the problem among government agencies and community organizations



Contributing Factors…

• Ex-offenders on probation/parole may be subject restriction of where they can live and with whom

• Certain convictions lead to ineligibility for government funded housing

• Majority of housing stock in rural areas are owner-occupied - rental stock is not as available



Ohio’s Roadblocks• Employers can refuse to hire anyone with a

conviction record no matter their qualifications

• Conviction records are available on the internet

• Bars people who are incarcerated for a felony conviction from voting

• Many PHA’s have a “x” year bar on accessing public housing

• Licenses are suspended for 6 months and 21 days when individual is convicted of drug or alcohol offenses, not just those related to driving - may petition for work privileges



Ohio’s Break Through

• Prohibits all employers and occupational licensing agencies from considering arrests not leading to conviction.

• Opted out of Federal Drug Felon Ban on TANF and Food Stamps

• Ohio doesn’t allow someone to vote while incarcerated

• Determinations about suitability to be a foster or adoptive parent are made individually, and evidence of rehabilitation is considered



Benefits of Developing A Re-Entry Housing Program

• Corrections facility– Reduced incarceration costs– Reduced liability due to

overcrowding– Greater inmate supervision– Limiting the “warehousing”

mentality




• The Community– Greater accountability of the

offender– Positive approach to offender

adjudication – Less victimization/greater public

safety




• The Corrections Staff– Safer working environment– Reduced jail incidents– Reduced job stress

• The Offenders Family– Opportunity for intervention– Focus towards positive options– Break in criminal cycle



Reentry Partners

•Law enforcement•Probation•Jail •Courts•Prosecutor

•Defense counsel•Housing providers•Social service providers•Family/friends



Reentry Points



Decreasing Barriers

• Negotiate with PHA to allow ex-offenders

• Advocate with local government to acquire abandoned property ex-offenders can be employed at the property

• Obtain community buy-in by partnering with local stakeholders

• Work with ex-offenders - they know best what will work and what will not



Housing Funding Opportunities

• Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)

• HUD Section 8 Vouchers• Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG)• Shelter Plus Care (S+C)• Low-income Housing Credits• Private-Sector Funding• HOPWA• Mental Health



Employment• Research has shown that having a job with decent

wages is associated with lower rates of recidivism• Many employers are unwilling to hire ex-offenders• Many ex-offenders lack the education and skills to

compete for employment• Average earnings in rural communities is 21%

lower than metro areas• Participants in vocational programs were more

likely to be employed following release and to have a recidivism rate 20% lower than non-participants.



Transition Planning

• Jail transition coordinating group should be established and meet regularly on community goals• Reduce disruptive behavior in the

community• Improve physical and social status• Decrease the likelihood of re-

offending



Transition Planning

• Assess - clinical & social needs and public safety risks

• Plan - for the treatment and services to meet the needs

• Identify - community and correctional programs

• Coordinate - the transition plan to ensure implementation



What Can Communities Do?

• Work with prisoners prior to release• Meet ex-offenders upon release, help

them to navigate for first few days• Create network of partners for

employment options• Engage providers that can assist

families also deal with transition




• Involve faith-based community for mentoring

• Provide opportunities for community service

• Develop coalition to oversee reentry efforts and provide accountability for community.




Develop Reentry work plans - • Set common goals• Determine population• Complete strategic plan with:

– outcomes, – strategies, – responsible parties, and – monitoring requirements




Landlord Outreach• Educational services for landlords,

managers, owners• Incentive/finders fee• Recruitment campaign• Involve landlords on advisory board• Provide hotline number for crises• Encourage Housing Authority to convert

up to 20% of their vouchers to Project-Based Assistance



Initiatives

• Pre-release programs• “Reinventing Probation”• 3-part Alcohol and Other Drug

treatment & reentry• Pre-release employment training -

apprenticeships• Time-limited subsidy programs• Family reentry programs



Initiatives

• Landlord Monetary incentives• Tenant-based rental assistance

• Rent payment guarantees

• Deposits• Finder’s fee/signing bonus• Damage deposits/payments• Retainer/eviction allowance• Master leasing



Policy Implications

• Housing programs in rural settings can build on family & friend support

• Outreach should be completed with prospective employers to encourage hiring of ex-offenders

• Interactive video technology can facilitate easier access to services



Questions and

Answers



Jonda Clemings, MSEd, LSWRural Housing Program Coordinator

Coalition On Homelessness and Housing In Ohio - COHHIO

175 S. Third St. - Suite 250Columbus, Ohio 43215

[email protected]

www.cohhio.org

what is reentry housing and what makes it a “hot topic” “ housing is the cornerstone of...

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