People leaving incarceration are at an elevated risk of homelessness, while collateral consequences and stigma pose significant barriers to obtaining post-release housing. People who have been incarcerated are also 10 times more likely than the general public to be unhoused, and people who are unhoused are 11 times more likely to be arrested.
In this video, people from communities across the nation come together to talk about their experiences both accessing and providing reentry housing. They have lived through the experience of finding post-release housing themselves, worked with people who have lived through that experience as landlords and housing developers, or both.
Finding safe, stable housing can be one of the most challenging obstacles for someone exiting jail or prison, especially for someone with behavioral health needs. Add in the limited availability of affordable housing, policy barriers, and stigmas associated with a criminal record, and the challenge may feel insurmountable. Oftentimes, service providers may turn away the very people who need housing the most.
“Those of us who are directly impacted or who have convictions, we are human beings first.”
Listen to the stories told firsthand by those who have lived through this journey and learn about the life-changing impact of reentry housing.
This video was made possible through funding under the Second Chance Act. The Second Chance Act supports state, local, and Tribal governments and nonprofit organizations in their work to reduce recidivism and improve outcomes for people returning from incarceration. The Second Chance Act has supported more than $500 million in reentry investments across the country. Click here to Learn more.