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Helping end homelessness for former convicts

My work in the policy sector over the years has produced a great network of individuals working hard to end societal issues that dampen healthy growth for the community at large. However, my experience and work in the field has exceled my mission to shed light and awareness on the hardships formally incarcerated individuals face when trying to start anew.


In 2019 I met with a group to discuss options and avenues designed to assist formally incarcerated individuals gain housing.


My own experience brought a great deal of challenges when trying to secure, safe and stable housing after returning to society. During that time I was blessed enough to have a flourishing career, providing me the income to support housing costs as well as great credit and yet, still I was unable to secure a place to call home.


The whole process was stressful and equally frustrating to say the least. We (society) place a certain amount of responsibility for returning citizens to come home, be productive and acclimate back into regular healthy functioning. Though, not realizing the limitations that are being placed on us to accomplish even the basic needs in functioning --securing a safe place to live.


Our environment has a huge role in our production as well as our mental state. Basic needs such as housing offer the stability for a person to gain routines and begin building a life that is different and more productive even than the ones some led prior to incarceration. It goes back to setting people up for success. If we want to see a thriving community than our resources need to match those we are serving.


Its important for us to allow change to be experienced by those who are attempting to make the change, for themselves and their families. Formally incarcerated individual's are 10 times more likely to become homeless once being released due to the lack of resources provided for stable and safe housing. Additionally, a stable living environment has statistically shown a reduction in individuals returning to a life of crime. It seems only obvious then to extend a hand up rather than looking at things through the hand out mindset. We want a secure community, help those achieve it. Its better for everyone's future as a whole.


As I mentioned in one of my previous posts, incarceration isn't only effecting the individual who is in prison, but the children and families attached to that person. The same holds true for homelessness. Without housing it decreases the odds of an individual being able to maintain or even gain proper employment to provide a living, further escalating the stress from their circumstance to stay afloat. Families with children who struggle to gain housing, or employment due to the barriers placed on them, all to often become subject to living on the streets and fending for themselves.


Our society has come to far with all our advances to allow homelessness (for anyone) to still be a pandemic we are witnessing rather than actively changing.


I've attached a news report from the 2019 housing submit, I recently came across, as a topic that deserves more attention.


 
 
 

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