Breaking the Cycle of Criminal Justice Involvement and Homelessness May 10, 2016 Presented by Joe N. Savage, Jr., PhD Regional Coordinator (USICH)

U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness Leading the federal response to homelessness Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness Goals 1.Prevent and end homelessness among Veterans in Finish the job of ending chronic homelessness in Prevent and end homelessness among families, children, and youth in Set a path to end all types of homelessness Action Areas 1.Increase Leadership, Collaboration, and Civic Engagement 2.Increase Access to Stable and Affordable Housing 3.Increase Economic Security 4.Improve Health and Stability 5.Retool the Homelessness Crisis Response System 2

Breaking the Cycle Homelessness Incarceration Reentry 3

Federal Interagency Reentry Council 4  20-agency Council established in 2011 by the Attorney General  Coordinates Federal policy efforts to reduce barriers to successful reentry (housing, employment, benefits, services, civic participation)

Interagency Council Focus (October 2015) 1.Alternatives to criminalizationAlternatives to criminalization 2.Law enforcement policies and practices that unfairly impact the homeless 3.Improving reentry programs by strengthening connections to housing and services (no silos) 4.Removing barriers to housing and services that result from involvement in criminal justice system 5

Permanent Supportive Housing for Reentry Population through Pay for Success  HUD/DOJ $8.7 million demonstration grant to address homelessness and reduce recidivism among the justice- involved population Test cost-effective ways to help persons cycling between the criminal justice and homeless service systems Make new Permanent Supportive Housing available for the reentry population 6

New and Upcoming Reentry Tools  Reentry Housing and Homelessness Tool  Help reentry programs and corrections agencies navigate housing and homelessness assistance programs  Housing Status Assessment for Reentry Programs  Justice and Housing/Homelessness Collaboration Guide  Legal Services Brief 7

Reentry Housing Resource Tip Sheet (Connecting People Returning from Incarceration with Housing and Homelessness Assistance)Connecting People Returning from Incarceration with Housing and Homelessness Assistance 1.Partner with housing and homelessness assistance systems Continuum of Care (CoC) Public Housing Authority (PHA) Local/state housing agencies Faith-based/neighborhood organizations 2.Assess housing status of persons involved with criminal justice system to create tailored housing solutions Homelessness status prior to entry Social/family supports Rent affordability 8

Reentry Housing Resource Tip Sheet 3.Use data to assess need and improve system effectiveness Homelessness assistance, behavioral health, substance abuse, criminal justice (e.g., identify frequent/high users across systems) 4.Identify gaps in resources and expand the supply of affordable housing options Identify possible criminal justice resources that can expand the supply of housing (e.g., short term rental assistance) Coordinate w/ PHAs to establish housing preference for persons involved with criminal justice system 9

Reentry Housing Resource Tip Sheet 5.Work with housing providers to adopt more reasonable tenant selection criteria Local PHA flexibility (HUD guidance on tenant screening and arrest records) 6.Address legitimate concerns of landlords Risk mitigation funds 7.Support people’s lasting stability and success Adequate level of interventions/services 10