Criminal Justice Mental Health and
Substance Abuse Reinvestment Grant
Housing Strategies
Ellen Piekalkiewicz
Department of Children and Families
Florida Supportive Housing Coalition
July 12, 2011
Introduction
• The Reinvestment Grant Program has laid the
foundation for shifting the focus of care of
offenders with mental health and/or cooccurring substance abuse disorders from the
most expensive, deep end of the system to
early intervention and diversion.
• County Grantees have recognized the
importance of housing for individuals served
under the grants.
Re-entry and Recidivism
• 40,000 individuals each year are released from
Florida prisons
• 560,000 individuals are released from Florida’s
jails
• Many of these individuals have substance use
disorders and/or mental illnesses
• According to state and national statistics the
recidivism rate for all offenders is about 67
percent after 3 years.
Housing
• Research has shown that ex-offenders who do not find
stable housing in the community are more likely to
recidivate that those who do have housing.
• Supportive housing is a proven method that can help
reduce the high rates of recidivism experienced by people
with histories of homelessness, incarceration, mental
illness, and other health conditions. There is a significant
need for a flexible funding source that can easily be used to
support jail and prison in-reach programs that are also
linked to immediate behavioral health services and housing
opportunities upon re-entry.
• Individuals returning to their communities from prison or
jail often face significant barriers in obtaining housing.
Housing and Urban Development
Public Housing Authorities have discretion when
considering individuals leaving the criminal
justice system and are encouraged by HUD to
allow ex-offenders to rejoin their families.
HUD continued
PHAs must establish lifetime bans on admission
to Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher
programs for:
1. Individuals found to have manufactured
or produce methamphetamine on the
premises of federally assisted housing; and
2. Sex offenses subject to a lifetime
registration requirement under a State sex
offender registration program.
HUD Continued
• PHAs may establish standards that prohibit
admission if there is a previous eviction for past
illegal drug use.
• However, PHAs retain discretion to consider the
circumstances and may admit an individual if the
PHA determines that the evicted household
member has successfully completed a supervised
drug rehabilitation program, including those
supervised by drug courts.
HUD Continued
• “As President Obama recently made clear, this is
an Administration that believes in the importance
of second chances – that people who have paid
the debt to society deserve the opportunity to
become productive citizens and caring parents, to
set the past aside and embrace the future. Part of
that support means helping ex-offenders gain
access to one of the most fundamental building
blocks of stable life – a place to live.” HUD
Secretary Shaun Donovan in a June 17, 2011
letter to Public Housing Authorities
Public Defender Program in Pinellas
and Pasco Counties
• Public Defender Bob Dillinger has a program in place to link
individuals to services and housing to reduce recidivism
• In his program, 87 percent of the individuals are not returning to
the criminal justice system and are not entering Crisis Stabilization
Units.
• Housing is a critical piece. The PD’s program pays $800 per month
for supervised residential placements.
• The PD’s office also pays first month’s deposit and security deposits
for individuals who want to rent their own apartments; and who
can afford it through employment or benefits or a combination
there of.
• Additionally, Pinellas County has purchased 10 single person
transition unsupervised apartments. Individuals will be able to
graduate to this type apartment from the supervised residential
housing.
Orange County
•
The Central Receiving Center serves as the hub for the mental health
system of care for adults in Orange County
•
Consumers placed in most appropriate community resource within 24
hours
•
Over 36,000 individuals screened
– 21% are homeless
_ For homeless consumers – approximately 50% have both a mental
health and substance use disorder
ANCHOR PROGRAM
A transitional housing program with case
management services. While living at
ANCHOR, residents work with case managers
and community staff to establish and
accomplish their goals as well as transition to
safe, affordable, permanent and stable
housing.
Accessing New Choices for Housing
Opportunities and Recovery
• To stabilize and lead to permanent housing. All services
provided will be directed toward this outcome
Outcomes Since inception October 2008
•
•
•
•
279 Individuals Served
47% left for permanent housing
76% left the program 6 months or less
32% left the program with greater monthly income than
upon entry
• 27% left with food stamps
• 92% did not return to CRC
• 81% were not re-arrested in 90 days
Miami – Dade County
• Housing is an essential component of the 11th
Judicial District’s diversion program.
• Individuals in the program are not placed in
houseless shelters and not released to
homelessness.
• ALFs are used extensively, due to lack of
affordable housing in Miami.
• The 11th Judicial District conducts its own
assessment of each ALF to participate in their
program.