When you work with individuals transitioning from incarceration, you quickly learn that stable housing is a must for successful reintegration. There’s a strong correlation between housing stability and preventing recidivism.
So, how does housing affect crime rates in practice? Let’s find out.
Understanding Recidivism
The cycle of recidivism affects far too many ex-offenders. So, what exactly is recidivism, and what are its root causes?
Definition of Recidivism
Recidivism is the tendency of someone to reoffend and return to criminal behavior after being released from incarceration. However, recidivism goes beyond just returning to prison. It represents a complex web of challenges your clients face when trying to rebuild their lives.
When someone returns to criminal behavior after release, it often stems from a lack of basic stability, with housing playing a central role. The numbers tell a compelling story — formerly incarcerated people are 10 times more likely than the general public to experience homelessness.
But does homelessness increase crime? Sadly, yes. Individuals experiencing homelessness are more likely to be both victims and perpetrators of crimes due to their vulnerable living situations. And so the cycle continues.
Common Causes of Recidivism
The path back to prison often involves several interconnected factors. Here are a few common causes of recidivism:
- Housing instability: Without a stable address, your clients struggle to maintain employment, access services, or meet parole requirements.
- Lack of support systems: When people cannot establish a stable home base, they often lose connections with family and support networks, which are crucial for rehabilitation.
- Economic barriers: Housing discrimination and criminal records create nearly insurmountable obstacles to finding jobs and housing rentals.
- Policy restrictions: Many public housing authorities maintain strict barriers against people with criminal records despite evidence showing stable housing reduces reoffending.
The Importance of Stable Housing
As a police social worker, you’ve likely noticed that housing stability is the foundation for all other aspects of successful reintegration.
How Stable Housing Influences Reentry Into Society
When your clients secure stable housing after release, it creates a ripple effect that touches every aspect of their lives. Research shows that individuals who find stable housing within the first month after release have significantly lower rates of returning to prison. This makes perfect sense when you consider the practical implications of having a permanent address.
Consider the challenges your clients face without stable housing. The majority of all people leaving prison have nowhere to go. Without a stable address, your clients can’t effectively:
- Search for jobs
- Maintain consistent healthcare
- Receive important documents and communications
Conversely, people with stable housing can focus on their recovery, maintain employment, and rebuild family relationships. These are crucial factors in preventing recidivism.
This stability provides more than just shelter. It offers dignity, security, and a sense of belonging that many of your clients haven’t experienced in years.
The cycle between homelessness and involvement in the criminal legal system creates a particularly challenging dynamic. Experiencing homelessness increases the likelihood of criminal justice involvement and vice versa. Breaking this cycle requires addressing housing stability as a fundamental component of ensuring successful reentry programs.
The Psychological Impact of Housing Instability
When your clients face housing instability, they experience far more than just the physical challenge of finding shelter. The psychological toll runs deep, creating a complex web of emotional and mental health issues that can derail their recovery and reintegration efforts.
Housing instability triggers intense stress responses in people, often manifesting as anxiety and depression, as without stable housing, they’re constantly in survival mode. They’re always wondering where they’ll sleep next week or if they’ll have an address to put on job applications.
The general strain theory (GST) of criminology helps explain why this psychological burden increases the risk of reoffending. When formerly incarcerated individuals experience the negative emotions from housing instability — like depression, resentment, and anger — they become more vulnerable to returning to criminal behavior.
Think about your clients who couch-surf or live in temporary shelters. This marginal housing situation affects their sense of self-worth and dignity. Studies reveal that formerly incarcerated people experiencing housing instability often develop feelings of shame and social isolation. This can severely impact their mental health and ability to maintain employment or treatment programs.
The psychological impact becomes even more pronounced for those with existing mental health conditions. When your clients lack stable housing, they struggle to maintain consistent mental health treatment, leading to a deterioration of their condition. This creates a dangerous cycle — poor mental health makes it harder to maintain housing, while housing instability makes it harder to maintain mental health.
There’s no denying the relationship between serious mental illness, homelessness, and crime.
Evidence Linking Housing to Crime Reduction
When you look at real-world programs and their outcomes, the connection between housing and reduced crime becomes crystal clear. Let’s explore some compelling evidence that shows how housing support directly impacts your clients’ lives.
The Returning Home Ohio (RHO) project offers one of the most striking examples of housing’s impact on recidivism. Their data shows that participants who received supportive housing services were 40% less likely to face rearrests than those without housing support. This dramatic reduction reveals how stable housing can transform outcomes for formerly incarcerated people.
The Homecoming Project has achieved remarkable success in California’s Alameda County by matching formerly incarcerated individuals with homeowners who provide stable housing. The results speak volumes:
- 100% of participants secured stable housing of their own, and remarkably, none returned to prison.
- Even more encouraging, 95% of participants found employment or enrolled in educational programs.
The City of Hayward’s Housing Navigation Center (HNC) presents another strong example. Among 188 justice-involved individuals who received housing through their program, nearly 70% transitioned to permanent housing. The recidivism rate among participants was just 9.6%, compared to the typical rate of 68% within three years of release.
Milwaukee County’s Housing First initiative also yielded extraordinary results. After implementing the program, municipal violations decreased by 82%, and the homeless population dropped significantly from 1,521 to 900. The program included specialized homelessness outreach teams staffed by police officers who focused on housing solutions rather than arrests.
Recommendations for Improving Housing Stability
When working with formerly incarcerated clients, you know that policy changes can make or break their chances of success. Let’s explore concrete solutions that can help create more stable housing opportunities for the people you serve.
Policy Suggestions for Housing Subsidies
The current housing situation needs significant reform to better serve vulnerable populations. One of the most impactful changes would be revising local public housing authority policies to align more closely with U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) standards for housing formerly incarcerated individuals. This shift would open doors long closed to people with criminal records.
Moving away from “one-strike” rules has yielded promising results. Under updated HUD guidance, public housing authorities can no longer deny housing based solely on arrest records or implement blanket bans on people with certain convictions. This is particularly helpful when advocating for clients who have shown clear evidence of rehabilitation.
The Second Chance Act (SCA) demonstrates how federal grant programs can effectively support housing initiatives. These investments in supportive and recovery housing have created new pathways for people leaving incarceration. Your organization can consider pursuing these funding streams to expand your community’s housing options.
Tax incentives for private landlords who rent to people with criminal records represent another powerful tool. When landlords receive benefits for participating in second-chance housing programs, they’re more likely to review each applicant as an individual rather than implementing categorical exclusions. This approach helps create more opportunities for your clients while protecting landlords’ interests.
The Denver Social Impact Bond (SIB) initiative offers another compelling model for housing policy. The program achieved remarkable results by providing housing subsidies with limited requirements and voluntary intensive clinical treatment. Participants:
- Spent 27% fewer days in jail
- Experienced 40% fewer arrests
This kind of comprehensive approach shows how housing stability directly impacts recidivism rates.
Role of Community Support Organizations
Community support organizations are vital bridges between formerly incarcerated people and successful reintegration. These organizations understand that housing isn’t just about providing shelter. It’s about creating comprehensive support systems that help break the cycle of recidivism.
The Fortune Society in New York proves the effectiveness of community organizations. Its holistic approach combines housing assistance with education, employment services, and substance abuse treatment, creating a complete support network for people transitioning from incarceration.
The key to these organizations’ success lies in their comprehensive approach. For example, the Delancey Street Foundation in San Francisco focuses on peer support and personal responsibility while helping people develop crucial life skills. This combination of practical assistance and emotional support creates a foundation for lasting change.
Community organizations also play a crucial role in addressing landlord discrimination. Many of your clients face barriers like higher security deposits or outright rejection due to their criminal records. Organizations that build relationships with local landlords and support tenants and property owners help bridge this gap, making stable housing more accessible.
Strengthening Families and Communities
When you work with formerly incarcerated individuals, you quickly discover that family connections are another powerful force in breaking the cycle of recidivism. The research reveals compelling evidence about how family support creates lasting positive change in your clients’ lives.
Importance of Family Support in Reducing Recidivism
The impact of family support on reducing recidivism goes far beyond emotional comfort. When your clients maintain strong family connections during and after incarceration, they’re significantly less likely to return to prison. Studies show that individuals who have consistent family contact through visits, phone calls, and other forms of communication show markedly better outcomes after release.
Phone contact is particularly effective in maintaining these crucial family bonds. More than 80% of incarcerated individuals use phone calls to stay connected with family, and those who maintain regular phone contact have the lowest odds of returning to prison. Phone calls help preserve relationships during separation.
However, it’s important to recognize that family relationships can be complex. While supportive family ties reduce the risk of recidivism, strained or conflicted family relationships might actually increase the risk of reoffending. This highlights why your role in helping clients navigate and strengthen family relationships becomes critical during the reentry process.
The Safer Return program in Chicago’s Garfield Park community shows how family-inclusive approaches work in practice. By incorporating family members into case management and support services, the program strengthens the support networks that prove vital for successful reintegration. This comprehensive approach recognizes that families aren’t just helpful resources — they’re essential partners in the reentry process.
Remember that successful family reunification often requires addressing practical challenges alongside emotional ones. Your clients may need help:
- Managing child support obligations
- Rebuilding trust with children
- Navigating changed family dynamics that developed during their absence
By helping them address these challenges systematically, you increase their chances of maintaining the family connections that prove so vital to their success.
Community Resources and Support Networks
There’s a rich network of community organizations ready to support formerly incarcerated individuals in navigating reentry. These resources work together to create a safety net that catches people before they fall back into old patterns.
- Catholic Charities agencies work with clients facing different types of homelessness or housing instability. They assist families and individuals regardless of religious affiliation, providing crucial support during the transition period.
- Goodwill Industries offers extensive job training and employment services. It’s specifically designed for people with criminal histories, helping your clients build the skills they need for long-term success.
- The Salvation Army’s work-release programs also deserve special attention. Their rehabilitation centers and Harbor Light facilities serve as designated halfway houses, working directly with probation and parole offices to support successful reintegration. This partnership between community organizations and criminal justice agencies creates a more seamless transition for your clients.
- Day Reporting Centers (DRC) are another vital community resource. These facilities allow low-risk individuals to serve their sentences while remaining in the community, focusing on employment and skills training. This approach helps your clients maintain community connections while fulfilling their obligations to the justice system.
FAQs
What is the relationship between housing and crime?
There’s a strong relationship between homelessness and crime. Stable housing and affordable housing developments help reduce the correlation between homeless people and crime. Studies show that areas with housing assistance programs experience decreased violent crime and improved public safety.
What reduces recidivism rates?
Stable housing, comprehensive support services, family connections, and employment opportunities significantly reduce recidivism rates.
What is the effect of housing assistance on recidivism to homelessness, economic and social outcomes?
Housing assistance programs reduce recidivism while improving employment stability, family relationships, and overall community reintegration.
