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Dec 14, 2015
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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
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Types of Housing
•Housing first•Housing ready•Low demand•High demand•Shelter•Scattered sites
•Half-way house•Transitional•Permanent supportive•Shelter Plus Care
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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Re-entry… the Challenges
• 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
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Re-entry… the Challenges
• 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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Benefits of Developing A Re-Entry Housing Program
• The Community– Greater accountability of the
offender– Positive approach to offender
adjudication – Less victimization/greater public
safety
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Benefits of Developing A Re-Entry Housing Program
• 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
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Reentry Partners
•Law enforcement•Probation•Jail •Courts•Prosecutor
•Defense counsel•Housing providers•Social service providers•Family/friends
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Reentry Points
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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What Can Communities Do?
• Involve faith-based community for mentoring
• Provide opportunities for community service
• Develop coalition to oversee reentry efforts and provide accountability for community.
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What Can Communities Do?
Develop Reentry work plans - • Set common goals• Determine population• Complete strategic plan with:
– outcomes, – strategies, – responsible parties, and – monitoring requirements
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What Can Communities Do?
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
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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
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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
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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
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Questions and
Answers
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Jonda Clemings, MSEd, LSWRural Housing Program Coordinator
Coalition On Homelessness and Housing In Ohio - COHHIO
175 S. Third St. - Suite 250Columbus, Ohio 43215
www.cohhio.org