HUD released new guidance to public housing agencies (PHAs) and other stakeholders to encourage greater efforts and collaboration in housing persons with criminal records. The guidance, “It Starts with Housing,” discusses ways HUD is supporting PHA efforts to provide housing for justice-involved individuals and highlights reentry models currently used by some PHAs, including the New York City Housing Authority, and the lessons learned developing them.
The guidance also encourages stakeholders to work with PHAs to review and develop new criminal background screening policies to improve housing opportunities for people with criminal records. The guidance discusses the successful efforts by stakeholders working with the Housing Authority of New Orleans to revise its screening policies so that applicants are not denied housing without an individualized risk assessment.
Read the guidance at: http://1.usa.gov/29lrlIl