Still Serving Time… Struggling with Homelessness, Incarceration & Re-Entry in Baltimore October 2011

Purpose of Research 2011 Health Care for the Homeless Summer Research Study To examine the impact of incarceration on health, housing, and employment –People experiencing homelessness and marginally housed individuals were a primary focus of this study

Background Prison population increase : 705% MD adults incarcerated, on probation/parole: 1:27 –Half are Baltimore City residents People homelessness on single night in Baltimore City: ~4,000 –Only ~2,000 shelter beds  Homelessness and incarceration a mutual risk factor

Methodology Community-based participatory research design Cross-sectional survey (25 questions) 21 survey sites across the city 6 weeks of surveying (June – July 2011) 24 trained surveyors (staff, interns, consumers) Inclusion criteria: Released from Maryland jail or prison in the last 10 years

Study Sample Total surveyed: 429 Average age: 43 Veterans: 12% Male: 79% Homelessness at time of survey: 68% Longest period 1+ years: 59% 5+ years over lifetime: 41%

Age at First Incarceration

Total Time Spent, by Age at First Incarceration

Housing Stability - Before & After

Unstable Housing After 6 Months

Barriers to Stability

Services: During & After Service Medical Mental Health Addictions Housing Case mgmt Education Job Training Religious After 62% 59% N/A 59% 57% 42% 91% During 72% 70% 84% 31% 65% 50% 44% 82%

Resources Preventing Incarceration

Other Key Findings Time of Release –Released between 8pm and 5am: 68% Home Plan –Never completed home plan that met their needs: 71% Employment: –Employed since recent release: 40%

Qualitative Responses “The legal system here doesn’t recognize mental illness. They threw my medication away, they threw my phone away. America locks up patients, not prisoners.” “I have work history all the way up until 33 years old. I’m always turned down because of my record. Corporate don’t see me in person. They don’t know I’m a changed person. It’s like we got a disease. They look at my record like it’s a disease.” “It’s nuts – I need an ID, but to get that I need a social security card. To get a social security card, I need an ID. How do I do that?”

Policy Applications 2012 Legislative Proposals: –Ban the Box –Shielding of records Expand pre-release planning/resources Invest in affordable housing and health care Target interventions to youth (and their families) De-criminalize homelessness Increase/intensify services (during & after)  Employment, housing, and health care as prevention

Report Release Release full report: October 26, Contact: Adam Schneider, MSW HCH Community Relations Coordinator Lisa Klingenmaier, MSW/MPH(c) Public Policy Intern