From Reentry to Stability: Steps to Address Housing Barriers After Incarceration in ACC

My name is Anusha Tembe, and I am the Housing Insecurity Policy Center co-lead! I am a senior with majors in Political Science and International Affairs and minors in Spanish and Law, Jurisprudence, and the State. 

Throughout the years, I have been able to see how housing insecurity and the criminal justice system are deeply intertwined. Many individuals that are exiting the criminal justice system, specifically incarceration, face significant struggles during reentry. One key struggle that many face is access to housing. Athens-Clarke Country (ACC) currently has programs that work to combat this problem through housing support and access to various resources that assist with reentry. 

However, when an individual is attempting to find permanent housing post-incarceration, they often face a new set of problems. Landlords are often hesitant to allow previously incarcerated individuals to move onto their property, and screen their applications out almost immediately. Furthermore, any previous eviction or conviction could lead to automatic denial, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the situation. As a result, even if these individuals go through transitional housing, have access to jobs, and even have case management (as offered through the programs in ACC), lack of exit options after this support is given could lead to homelessness, which increases one’s chances of reoffending.

One program that could be implemented or expanded upon in ACC to help mitigate this problem is a landlord risk mitigation fund aimed at coordination with jail reentry. This would essentially provide a safety net for landlords, reducing the perceived risk they could face when renting to individuals with criminal records, for example. This program would target people exiting the justice system in ACC, as well as previously incarcerated individuals who are exiting transitional housing or similar programs. An agency would refer these individuals, who would participate in case management to ensure success in establishing permanent housing. Landlords would also get financial protections through the fund. This fund could cover 2-3 months of rent, certain cases of property damage, and even compensation if a lease is broken. To receive these benefits, landlords must agree to consider tenants with criminal records and evictions, and cannot automatically deny these individuals because of these factors. 

Having a fund that provides these incentives to landlords to more readily accept individuals that have faced the criminal justice system provides not only a benefit to the individuals involved, but ACC as a whole. Access to permanent housing lowers the recidivism rate as it reduces instability in an individual’s life. This leads to overall betterment of the community. While ACC does provide some support to those facing reentry, there are several barriers in place that prevent long-term stability. Strengthening and expanding a landlord risk mitigation fund targeted toward these individuals would help bridge this gap and could lead to the change in their lives that they need for long-term success and stability.