Evaluation of a Supportive Housing Pilot Program for Homeless Offenders

There is substantial evidence that re-entry into the community from prison is a risk factor for becoming homeless. In order to break the cycle between homelessness and incarceration, the Community Renewal Team, in collaboration with the State of Connecticut Department of Correction, with support from the Byrne Memorial Fund, began the Supportive Housing Pilot Program for offenders leaving prisons who have a history of homelessness. The program houses 15 individuals (at a time) for two years in rent-subsidized scattered site apartments, with supportive services focusing on employment, mental health, and substance abuse treatment. The results reported here are from the evaluation which has tracked and interviewed all participants multiple times. As of December 2006, the program served 37 offenders in 39 housing episodes. The ‘typical' participant is a 40 year old African American male high school graduate who has had two incarcerations in the last five years and a significant substance abuse problem. Four individuals out of the 39 housing episodes have been re-arrested in the history of the program, a recidivism rate of 10% in contrast to the 2001 study of recidivism in Connecticut of 69% re-arrest rate after three years of leaving prison. Supportive housing for the re-entry community can serve as a model for addressing the high rate of recidivism and homelessness experienced throughout the US for this vulnerable population.