Urban Initiatives: Housing Ex- Offenders Presented by Community Housing Network (CHN) Kaiser Jones, Vanitia Turner, Mike Tynan and Loretta Warren

Community Housing Network Mission: Community Housing Network, Inc. provides safe affordable rental housing and linkage to supportive services for people with disabilities and other special needs such as homelessness. CHN serves as a developer, owner and property manger, and facilitates access to rent subsidies and private housing.

Vital Partnerships Community mental health agencies V.A. Emergency shelters Other governmental and non-profit agencies The Benefit Bank

Other Supportive Housing Providers in Columbus NCR – The Commons at Grant Maryhaven – The Commons at Chantry YMCA (2) YWCA RLPTI Southeast Inc.

Housing Models Scattered Site Housing No site based services No site based services Widely scattered, low density clusters Widely scattered, low density clusters Recovery Housing Early recovery Early recovery Relapse tolerant Relapse tolerant Stages of Change Housing 24/7 monitored entry 24/7 monitored entry Engagement based Engagement based

Housing of Ex-Offenders Already in each type of housing – Including some sex offenders – Excluding some arsonists, some felonies – CHN tenant selection policy – In the above programs must fit criteria of homelessness (HUD, RL)

Housing of Ex-Offenders: The Stages of Change Model Stages Processes Techniques “Changing for Good” By: Prochaska, Norcross, and DiClemente

Housing of Ex-Offenders Re-entry, Phase I – Initiative of ODRC, ODMH, ADAMH – Partnership of CHN and Southeast – Tenant must be SMD Re-entry, Phase II – Initiative of the Corporation for Supportive Housing, ODRC – Tenant does not have to be SMD

Housing of Ex-Offenders: Challenges Avoiding high risk areas Obtaining SSI Medication compliance

Housing of Ex-Offenders: Challenges (cont.) No income (no clothes, no laundry money, no food, no furniture, etc.) Rent not including utilities Health insurance for non-psych medications Lengthy waits to get into MH system

Housing of Ex- Offenders: Sex Offenders Legal Requirements Supportive Services CHN Limitations CHN Review Process

Employment for Ex-Offenders Current lists of employers Locating and educating employers – Tax credits – Bonding issues Job preparation – Job training in prison – for prison – Simple, basic, but necessary for this population