The connection between prison, reentry, and homelessness

(Image by the Georgia Innocence Project)

After their release from prison, many people find themselves in a new sort of prison, trapped on the streets with nowhere to go.

That’s because former incarcerees are ten times more likely to experience homelessness than people without a prison record. Clearly, previous incarceration plays a major role in people winding up unhoused. In California, inmates aren’t required to have fixed addresses before being released. Reports show that roughly 36,400 inmates have been released since 2019 without having an address to go home to. How can they be expected to reintegrate without a proper bridge from incarceration? And if not in a home, where do we think they will wind up — except on the streets?

Reentry and reintegration is the promise society fails to uphold far too often for former prisoners, and is why the Weingart Center provides multiple programs for reentry to help build the bridge that the formerly incarcerated need. We offer programs of 90 to 180 days, and more, based on need and referral. These programs help with housing, education, vocational training, and even job placement. We also provide references to offsite and onsite clinical services, legal help, substance abuse help, and even residential programs for violent incarceration parolees.

There are many challenges the recently incarcerated face that require us to offer this broad span of programs. It’s no easy feat to turn a life around. Many issues can persist beyond release, and government social services don’t have enough programs set in place.

Here are some of the common obstacles people deal with after doing their time:

Drastic environment change
The abrupt transition from a structured, controlled environment having a community with specific rules and pecking order to the confusing and seemingly unstructured streets of Los Angeles can create a harsh culture shock. The formerly incarcerated also experience many other reentry challenges, like limited job prospects, lack of stable housing, strained family relationships, and poor access to supportive services.

Limited housing options
Stable housing is a significant challenge after incarceration. A criminal record can stand in the way of obtaining public assistance. On top of that, parole or probation requirements can further limit housing options due to restrictions on allowable living arrangements.

Employment struggles
A history of incarceration creates a significant barrier to employment, including discrimination based on criminal record. Licensing restrictions for some professions can also stand in the way of getting a job. Limited job prospects and financial instability can clear a path toward homelessness.

Weak social networks
Prison puts strain on family relationships. Friends and acquaintances — the people who make up a social network — often move on while an individual is incarcerated. Former prisoners are also burdened with stigma and prejudice. Lacking a supportive network can make it harder to find stable housing and assistance.

Mental and medical healthcare needs
People exiting jails and prisons may have experienced trauma during incarceration or have mental health conditions that go untreated. They might have chronic medical problems as well. Once released, they tend to face barriers to getting care because of a lack of insurance or resources, or difficulty navigating the healthcare system.

Substance abuse and addiction
Whether developed prior to or during incarceration, drug abuse is prevalent among individuals reentering society from prison. It’s imperative these individuals get treatment and support services to help them overcome addiction before it drags them down.

Legal challenges and recidivism
Legal problems can follow individuals long after release from prison, including probation violations and difficulty obtaining identification documents. Being without access to legal guidance and stuck without resources on the streets, they risk returning to the criminal justice system.

Formerly incarcerated people have a complex set of unique challenges made worse by being on the streets without resources. Coordination and collaboration are essential here. Reentry programs, social service agencies, housing providers, employers, and community organizations all need to come together to support successful reintegration. We can reduce the risk of homelessness with well-timed and comprehensive aid. To help us with our mission, a donation of your time or resources can make all the difference in turning a person’s life around.