Governor’s Community Safety and Reentry Commission and Working Group Report by the Housing Subcommittee October 6, 2005 Co-Chairs: Kelly King Dibble, IHDA and Sue Augustus, CSH

Overview

“ Cycle of Homelessness” A growing number of individuals cycle regularly between incarceration and homelessness 54% of homeless persons in shelters report previous incarceration More than 10% of inmates are homeless before or after incarceration For people with mental illness, it is 20% More than 30% of single adults entering shelters (in NY) are recently released from correctional facilities Report of the Re-Entry Policy Council

A growing number of individuals cycle regularly between incarceration and homelessness

54% of homeless persons in shelters report previous incarceration

More than 10% of inmates are homeless before or after incarceration

For people with mental illness, it is 20%

More than 30% of single adults entering shelters (in NY) are recently released from correctional facilities

“ Cycle of Homelessness” Most difficult discharge planning cases Prison management challenges Criminal justice and human services systems anxious to remove so called “frequent flyers” from institutional care Neither wants to claim primary responsibility for them or are equipped to do so with current interventions

Most difficult discharge planning cases

Prison management challenges

Criminal justice and human services systems anxious to remove so called “frequent flyers” from institutional care

Neither wants to claim primary responsibility for them or are equipped to do so with current interventions

Re-Entry Issues Offenders are released with: Limited education Poor ties to workforce Discrimination in housing, employment Family obligations Communicable and chronic illnesses Mental health and substance use issues

Offenders are released with:

Limited education

Poor ties to workforce

Discrimination in housing, employment

Family obligations

Communicable and chronic illnesses

Mental health and substance use issues

Re-Entry Issues Blanket exclusions from public housing and other rental housing units Insufficient affordable housing in our communities Insufficient subsidies and supportive services

Blanket exclusions from public housing and other rental housing units

Insufficient affordable housing in our communities

Insufficient subsidies and supportive services

Re-Entry Issues HUD has four prohibitions to participate in the Public Housing and Section 8 Voucher program: Drug or alcohol abuse – this prohibition is waived if the applicant is in an approved treatment program, or provides proof of completion of such a program Registered Sex Offender Drug manufacture in HUD subsidized properties Rents owed and in arrears from former HUD subsidy recipients

HUD has four prohibitions to participate in the Public Housing and Section 8 Voucher program:

Drug or alcohol abuse – this prohibition is waived if the applicant is in an approved treatment program, or provides proof of completion of such a program

Registered Sex Offender

Drug manufacture in HUD subsidized properties

Rents owed and in arrears from former HUD subsidy recipients

What is Re-Entry Housing Re-entry Housing is Simply: Modified form of supportive housing Services deal with the trauma and psychosocial aspects of incarceration Embedded within continuum of services

Re-entry Housing is Simply:

Modified form of supportive housing

Services deal with the trauma and psychosocial aspects of incarceration

Embedded within continuum of services

Why Re-Entry Housing The first 30 days after release is a critical period – when risk of homelessness and/or re-arrest is highest* Homelessness or lack of housing increases the risk of recidivism Housing provides a starting point and stable foundation for engagement into services *Report of the Re-Entry Policy Council

The first 30 days after release is a critical period – when risk of homelessness and/or re-arrest is highest*

Homelessness or lack of housing increases the risk of recidivism

Housing provides a starting point and stable foundation for engagement into services

Elements of Service Delivery System In-reach into prisons and jails to develop continuity of health care Interface with discharge planners, parole, or probation Ongoing – flexible and responsive

In-reach into prisons and jails to develop continuity of health care

Interface with discharge planners, parole, or probation

Ongoing – flexible and responsive

Continuum of Housing Options Homeless shelters Transitional/sober living Recovery homes/group homes/treatment setting Permanent supportive housing Nursing homes Independent housing Specific housing for veterans

Homeless shelters

Transitional/sober living

Recovery homes/group homes/treatment setting

Permanent supportive housing

Nursing homes

Independent housing

Specific housing for veterans

Recommendations

Recommendations Reception and Classification Process Prison-Based Reentry Preparation (short-term and long-term) Post-Release Case Management Community Capacity-Building and Sustainability (short-term and long-term)

Reception and Classification Process

Prison-Based Reentry Preparation

(short-term and long-term)

Post-Release Case Management

Community Capacity-Building and Sustainability (short-term and long-term)

Reception and Classification Process Fully open the reception center at Stateville allowing for a two-week minimum reception and classification process and train new staff and current staff to develop goal-oriented reentry focused assessments Develop a specialized housing assessment tool for parole violators and commitments of less than 6 months

Fully open the reception center at Stateville allowing for a two-week minimum reception and classification process and train new staff and current staff to develop goal-oriented reentry focused assessments

Develop a specialized housing assessment tool for parole violators and commitments of less than 6 months

Reception and Classification Process Identify a return address earlier in the process to ensure the initiation of housing search procedures Develop a scheduled follow-up timetable with a verified return address in an effort to increase the opportunities for stable housing upon release to ensure the housing search procedures are initiated within a reasonable time period

Identify a return address earlier in the process to ensure the initiation of housing search procedures

Develop a scheduled follow-up timetable with a verified return address in an effort to increase the opportunities for stable housing upon release to ensure the housing search procedures are initiated within a reasonable time period

Reception and Classification Process Focus on preventing reentry into homelessness by developing housing assessment tools to determine an inmates’ pre-incarceration housing status Develop and regularly update a resource manual that provides inmates with factual information in preparation for community re-integration Develop a system to formally establish an inmate’s real identity

Focus on preventing reentry into homelessness by developing housing assessment tools to determine an inmates’ pre-incarceration housing status

Develop and regularly update a resource manual that provides inmates with factual information in preparation for community re-integration

Develop a system to formally establish an inmate’s real identity

Prison-Based Reentry Preparation (Short-Term) Increase budget for the Placement Resource Unit of IDOC in order to expand housing options for returnees Increase staffing and training for field services and PRU staff to improve coverage and knowledge of suitable post-incarceration housing options

Increase budget for the Placement Resource Unit of IDOC in order to expand housing options for returnees

Increase staffing and training for field services and PRU staff to improve coverage and knowledge of suitable post-incarceration housing options

Prison-Based Reentry Preparation (Short-Term) Begin discharge planning earlier during incarceration to ensure ample time exists to identify viable housing options Encourage IDOC to adopt a policy of not discharging anyone to a homeless shelter Increase resources for staffing to ensure inmates obtain birth certificates and social security cards prior to release and get the Secretary of State to provide State IDs at the correctional facilities

Begin discharge planning earlier during incarceration to ensure ample time exists to identify viable housing options

Encourage IDOC to adopt a policy of not discharging anyone to a homeless shelter

Increase resources for staffing to ensure inmates obtain birth certificates and social security cards prior to release and get the Secretary of State to provide State IDs at the correctional facilities

Prison-Based Reentry Preparation (Short-Term) Establish effective procedures for calculating good time and ensure enough staff are properly trained to perform this function Effectively utilize the IVTP to assist incarcerated veterans with various reentry needs by creating a 50 – 100 bed pilot wing at Peoria Adult Transition Center for “homeless vets”

Establish effective procedures for calculating good time and ensure enough staff are properly trained to perform this function

Effectively utilize the IVTP to assist incarcerated veterans with various reentry needs by creating a 50 – 100 bed pilot wing at Peoria Adult Transition Center for “homeless vets”

Prison-Based Reentry Preparation (Short-Term) Re-open Champaign Adult Transition Center - possibly outsourcing operations to a local provider Develop a more affordable pay phone contract to allow inmates to strengthen the discharge process Identify a community-based organization to compile a housing resource list in each of the ten communities for IDOC discharge or transition planners to use to locate affordable and supportive housing

Re-open Champaign Adult Transition Center - possibly outsourcing operations to a local provider

Develop a more affordable pay phone contract to allow inmates to strengthen the discharge process

Identify a community-based organization to compile a housing resource list in each of the ten communities for IDOC discharge or transition planners to use to locate affordable and supportive housing

Prison-Based Reentry Preparation (Long-Term) Increase the number of inmates that transition to parole through Adult Transition Center (i.e. opening, expanding, or converting existing prison facilities)

Increase the number of inmates that transition to parole through Adult Transition Center (i.e. opening, expanding, or converting existing prison facilities)

Post-Release Case Management Develop links between state agencies and IDOC to facilitate case management planning and in-reach to allow communities partners to work inside the prisons before inmates are released Expand the Sheridan model and other pilot projects that incorporate post-release housing and services

Develop links between state agencies and IDOC to facilitate case management planning and in-reach to allow communities partners to work inside the prisons before inmates are released

Expand the Sheridan model and other pilot projects that incorporate post-release housing and services

Post-Release Case Management Increase Case Work Supervisor positions in PRUs to more closely work with a broader segment of the returning population, including discharges from Corrections that are not on parole (almost 6,000 individuals last year fit into this category) Encourage collaboration between IDOC, DHS, and HFS (IDPA) to provide SSI and Medicaid upon release for those with disabilities

Increase Case Work Supervisor positions in PRUs to more closely work with a broader segment of the returning population, including discharges from Corrections that are not on parole (almost 6,000 individuals last year fit into this category)

Encourage collaboration between IDOC, DHS, and HFS (IDPA) to provide SSI and Medicaid upon release for those with disabilities

Post-Release Case Management IDOC should set up releasees who are discharged to homeless shelters with a Community Voice Mail box to facilitate medical, housing and employment searches

IDOC should set up releasees who are discharged to homeless shelters with a Community Voice Mail box to facilitate medical, housing and employment searches

Community Capacity-Building and Sustainability (Short-Term) Issue an RFP to develop 100 new supportive housing units targeted to serve the reentry population dealing with mental illness, substance abuse, and HIV/AIDS using capital dollars from IHDA and designate rental subsidies and service dollars from other state and federal resources. Designate a lead agency to manage billing and administrative duties.

Issue an RFP to develop 100 new supportive housing units targeted to serve the reentry population dealing with mental illness, substance abuse, and HIV/AIDS using capital dollars from IHDA and designate rental subsidies and service dollars from other state and federal resources. Designate a lead agency to manage billing and administrative duties.

Community Capacity-Building and Sustainability (Short-Term) Target units in each of the ten communities for the reentry population utilizing the Rental Housing Support Program Identify and expand short-term rental subsidies to help the reentry population transition into the community prior to obtaining employment – e.g., Chicago Department of Public Health’s homeless men with substance abuse program.

Target units in each of the ten communities for the reentry population utilizing the Rental Housing Support Program

Identify and expand short-term rental subsidies to help the reentry population transition into the community prior to obtaining employment – e.g., Chicago Department of Public Health’s homeless men with substance abuse program.

Community Capacity-Building and Sustainability (Short-Term) Create additional adult transition centers to specifically address the needs of women with children – e.g., convert Kankakee to a women with children ATC model Target resources to families by developing a budget within PRU that incorporates time-limited wrap-around services to assist families in dealing with reintegration issues, including risk of violence towards family or other community members

Create additional adult transition centers to specifically address the needs of women with children – e.g., convert Kankakee to a women with children ATC model

Target resources to families by developing a budget within PRU that incorporates time-limited wrap-around services to assist families in dealing with reintegration issues, including risk of violence towards family or other community members

Community Capacity-Building and Sustainability (Short-Term) Incorporate into the reformed Pre-Start curriculum information to inform them of their legal rights as tenants in the private rental market – Perhaps Illinois Department of Human Rights would want to do this

Incorporate into the reformed Pre-Start curriculum information to inform them of their legal rights as tenants in the private rental market – Perhaps Illinois Department of Human Rights would want to do this

Community Capacity-Building and Sustainability (Short-Term) Discourage policies which establish or provide for blanket exclusions of ex-offenders from public housing, supportive housing and other government supported housing by advocating for case-specific determinations

Discourage policies which establish or provide for blanket exclusions of ex-offenders from public housing, supportive housing and other government supported housing by advocating for case-specific determinations

Community Capacity-Building and Sustainability (Short-Term) Advocate with HUD to have a more flexible policy on housing for ex-offenders in both public housing and in McKinney Vento funded units Advocate with Congress/HUD to create additional vouchers for this population

Advocate with HUD to have a more flexible policy on housing for ex-offenders in both public housing and in McKinney Vento funded units

Advocate with Congress/HUD to create additional vouchers for this population

Community Capacity-Building and Sustainability (Short-Term) Train and equip parole agents to facilitate and enforce adherence to the reentry plan Encourage collaboration between DASA, DMH, and IDOC to create a continuum of care model, including housing for ex-offenders with mental illness and substance abuse issues, modeled on the New Jersey PROMISE Initiative

Train and equip parole agents to facilitate and enforce adherence to the reentry plan

Encourage collaboration between DASA, DMH, and IDOC to create a continuum of care model, including housing for ex-offenders with mental illness and substance abuse issues, modeled on the New Jersey PROMISE Initiative

Community Capacity-Building and Sustainability (Long-Term) Create a partnership between IDOC, IDPH, DHS, and IL Department of Healthcare and Family Services to create an IDOC specific supportive living facility for parolees (primarily sex-offenders) with mental health diagnoses, possibly located on state-owned (IDOC) property (i.e. Stateville) Adopt an IL version of Congressman Davis’ model which provides tax credits for the developers of ex-offender housing

Create a partnership between IDOC, IDPH, DHS, and IL Department of Healthcare and Family Services to create an IDOC specific supportive living facility for parolees (primarily sex-offenders) with mental health diagnoses, possibly located on state-owned (IDOC) property (i.e. Stateville)

Adopt an IL version of Congressman Davis’ model which provides tax credits for the developers of ex-offender housing

Community Capacity-Building and Sustainability (Long-Term) Develop a “sweat equity” funding program to enable the reentry population to work for developers and simultaneously learn a trade and earn a place to live, (for example, the Delancy Street model of social entrepreneurship targeting persons leaving the correctional institutions) using funding from DCEO, USDOL, SBA, etc.

Develop a “sweat equity” funding program to enable the reentry population to work for developers and simultaneously learn a trade and earn a place to live, (for example, the Delancy Street model of social entrepreneurship targeting persons leaving the correctional institutions) using funding from DCEO, USDOL, SBA, etc.