The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security held a hearing, “Returning Citizens: Challenges and Opportunities for Reentry,” on February 27. Formerly incarcerated individuals must navigate significant challenges upon reentry into their communities after leaving prison or jail, particularly in obtaining safe, affordable, accessible housing. These challenges place returning individuals at risk of housing instability, homelessness, and ultimately recidivism. Witnesses discussed barriers to successful re-entry faced by individuals and highlighted potential reforms that would provide returning citizens the stability and opportunities needed to successfully reintegrate after incarceration.
Witnesses included John Harriel, diversity manager and superintendent at 2nd CALL; Conan Harris, principal at Conan Harris & Associates; Nancy La Vigne, vice president of justice policy at the Urban Institute; Ronald Lampard, senior director of the Criminal Justice Task Force and Civil Justice Task Force at the American Legislative Exchange Council; Vanessa Martin, director of reentry services at the Office of Diversion and Reentry, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services; and Jesse Wiese, national director of Academy Advancement at the Prison Fellowship.
“Laws or policies that restrict individuals from associating with felons might result in homelessness,” Subcommittee Chair Karen Bass (D-CA) noted in her opening statement. “Returning citizens are ten times more likely to be homeless than the general public. If you cannot find a place to live, cannot find a job, it should be no surprise that in order to survive, you re-offend.”
“One of the most pressing [challenges] continues to be access to housing,” said Mr. Harris. “The truth of the matter is, one of the biggest barriers to being able to get out and stay out [of prison] is housing.” Representative Cedric Richmond (D-LA) agreed, “We have so many people that can’t go home on probation or parole because they don’t have stable housing. [Housing] is one of the biggest determining factors in whether you get back into the [prison] system.”
Witnesses noted that successful reentry programs should focus on the holistic needs of individuals, including finding returning citizens safe, stable, affordable housing. “Successful reentry programs need to be both holistic – addressing all of the needs of an individual – and tailored, recognizing that people have different needs,” said Ms. La Vigne.
NLIHC recently published a new issue of Tenant Talk exploring the challenges formerly incarcerated individuals face in accessing housing upon reentry. Read the latest Tenant Talk at: https://bit.ly/2vmU6mk
A recording of the hearing is at: https://bit.ly/3cfRHKQ
More about the challenges people with criminal records face in accessing housing is on page 6-27 of NLIHC’s 2019 Advocates’ Guide.