Report: New housing policies could keep ex-cons from recidivism, save state millions
A report released Wednesday takes a look at how new housing policies can help formerly incarcerated people while also saving taxpayer dollars.
The report by the Metropolitan Planning Council and the Illinois Justice Project, offers more than a dozen policy proposals that can help government officials reduce recidivism while saving the state more than $100 million annually.
Nearly 40% of released inmates return to prison within three years; the report says one reason for that high recidivism rate is a lack of emphasis on all the challenges those people face when returning to the community.
“The discussion around preventing recidivism is always focused on job training for people and somewhat on their health needs,” said King Harris, co-author of the “Re-Entry Housing Issues in Illinois” report. “Rarely is the conversation focused on housing, and we feel that is the missing link.”
A focus on housing, King said, can create a bit of stability in neighborhoods and help those leaving prison to become productive members of the community instead of reverting to committing crimes.
About 40,000 people are now being held by the Illinois Department of Corrections, with about 28,000 leaving the system each year.
“In an ideal world, IDOC would find housing (including housing with needed social services), employment, affordable health care and necessary counseling to all 28,000 released prisoners,” the report said.
But “limited resources” — driven by lack of money — makes that unrealistic. But recidivism has its own price; the report notes that each time someone goes back into the prison system, it can cost taxpayers over $150,000, according to the report.
“If somebody leaves the Illinois Department of Corrections they should be able to go out and live with existing family members. If they can’t, they should be able to rent an apartment,” Harris said.
“But how can you rent an apartment if you don’t have work and landlords won’t rent to you because of your criminal background?” he added. “And how can you get a job if you don’t have a stable living situation?”
The report urges the state to create a new supportive housing rental subsidy program for those with physical and mental health needs. They ask to eliminate nonviolent offenders from restrictions that bar them from living in public housing units.
It recommends creating another new housing rental subsidy program under the Illinois Housing Development Authority direction that focuses on preselected individuals leaving IDOC. And, it suggests creating a tax incentive for landlords who are willing to rent to formerly incarcerated people.
“There is a very human side to this; 28,000 people get out of jail or prison every year and 12,000 to 13,000 of those people go back to prison within three years,” Harris said. “If we cut down recidivism, we save families and lives.”