Housing Matters

Michael NailExecutive Director

Board Members: Albert R. Murray, Chair;Terry E. Barnard, Vice-Chair;James E. Donald; James W. Mills & Braxton Cotton

Relevance of Housing Georgia Reentry Impact Project research

(2006) surveyed 300+ inmates and staff: housing identified as the #1 reentry need

Parole Board research (2003 & 2010): one residence change increases recidivism risk by

25% Four moves double the risk of re-arrest

Reentry Housing Continuum Transitional housing: 1st residence

following release from jail/prison Live with others Personal space, safety and freedom is

externally controlled

Personal residence Others live with you Experience intrinsic value, worth and

valued role in the community = recovery

Presentation’s Focus:Parole Board Resources

Transitional Housing for Offender Reentry (THOR) Directory

Reentry Partnership Housing (RPH)

THOR Directory Online, searchable database of ~120 self-pay

housing facilities: www.parole.georgia.gov Approved for probationers, inmates leaving prison

and parolees

THOR Directory

Standards include ongoing communications with supervising officers and the quality of the recovery environment safety & health factors

Three types of facilities:1) Structured housing2) Standard recovery residences

and3) Intensive recovery residences

Initiated in 2002

Structured Housing

Provides a safe environment in which to live - substance abuse or mental health

services not offered but other programming may be available

Recovery Residences

Safe and healthy housing for residents needing more than outpatient services to establish/maintain abstinence from alcohol and other drugs and criminal behavior

Standard: 1 or more hours of substance abuse services per week

Intensive: 5 or more hours of substance abuse counseling per week

Transitional Housing for Offender Reentry (THOR) Directory

Currently 126 approved facilities: Structured housing = 30Standard recovery residence = 58Intensive recovery residence = 38

Facilities that accept:Mental health/co-occurring = 111

Sex offender = 7

Reentry Partnership Housing (RPH)

Collaboration between SBPP, DOC, and DCA begun in 2006

Eligibility: inmates beyond their tentative parole month who do not have a

valid residence

Pre-approved housing providers receive first 3 months’ room & board - $600 per month per parolee

Reentry Partnership Housing (RPH)

427 placements in FY2013

87% of placements remain active or successfully completed parole

FY2011-13 cost avoidance: $20,908,148.78 (parole supervision vs. remaining in

prison)

Reentry Partnership Housing (RPH)

30 housing providers: Program capacity = 226

136 current participants

12 participants are Mental Health Level 3 and those housing providers receive $675

per month for MH inmates for 4 months – allows time for SSI/SSDI approval

Partnerships with DBHDD

Advantage Behavioral Health Systems (ABHS)/Reentry Partnership Housing Pilot

Long-term housing via RPH for DOC Level 3 & 4 mental health inmates who have no other housing options.

ABHS provides treatment, peer support, medication monitoring , 24/7 crisis

intervention.

Reentry Housing Challenges

Affordable housing

Sex offender housing

Felony exclusions from public housing

Prosocial community support

Pervasive stigma and discrimination:Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY)

Housing Matters

Michael NailExecutive Director

Board Members: Albert R. Murray, Chair;Terry E. Barnard, Vice-Chair;James E. Donald; James W. Mills & Braxton Cotton