Housing Matters Michael Nail Executive 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: 1 st 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:  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 housing 2) Standard recovery residences and 3) 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 = 30 Standard recovery residence = 58 Intensive 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  FY cost avoidance: $20,908, (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 P ilot  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 Nail Executive Director Board Members: Albert R. Murray, Chair; Terry E. Barnard, Vice-Chair; James E. Donald; James W. Mills & Braxton Cotton