Home for Good Coalition Holds Rally in Support of Legislation to Increase Housing and Support Services for People Returning from Prison

Home for Good Coalition Holds Rally in Support of Legislation to Increase Housing and Support Services for People Returning from Prison

Event featured discussion with Chicago Bulls star and housing advocate Joakim Noah

CHICAGO — The Home for Good Coalition held a rally day at the National Public Housing Museum on Thursday, March 19, to increase awareness of legislation that would create safer, stronger communities across Illinois by improving housing and support services for people returning from prison.

The rally comes just weeks after the coalition introduced the Home for Good legislation (SB4162) during a press conference at the Capitol in Springfield. Nearly 100 advocates gathered in support of the measure, sponsored by Sen. Adriane Johnson, D-Buffalo Grove, and Rep. Maurice West, D-Rockford, which would prevent homelessness, increase public safety and save taxpayers money by creating a comprehensive strategy to ensure successful reentry for people returning from prison. Activities included a fireside chat led by Ahmadou Dramé, director of the Illinois Justice Project, with Joakim Noah, former Chicago Bulls All-Star and co-founder of the Noah’s Arc Foundation, and Andre Ruddock, founder of Returning Citizens in Memory of Henry Dee and outreach coordinator for the Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance.

Additional speakers included Sen. Lakesia Collins, D-Chicago, as well as Javier Reyes, co-founder of Challenge II Change, a reentry organization in Aurora. The museum served as a poignant backdrop for the event, connecting the past to ongoing social justice and human rights issues related to housing policies.

“We are so grateful to Joakim for shining his spotlight on this issue, which has an outsized impact on Black and Brown communities that already face higher rates of over-policing and incarceration,” said Ahmadou Dramé, director of the Illinois Justice Project. “Home for Good aims to break the patterns of inequity by establishing a statewide strategy and program that creates housing opportunities and services to support those returning from prison, addressing discriminatory and exclusionary human service, rental and employment policies that contribute to housing instability upon release. By acting now, Illinois can reap long-term social and economic benefits.”

Data from the Loyola Chicago Center for Criminal Justice shows as many as 70% of people struggle with stable housing and homelessness prior to incarceration. Each year, 15,000 people exit Illinois prisons, with the vast majority unable to find stable housing due to widespread inequities in the housing market and gaps in the human services system. This lack of support contributes to a costly cycle in which nearly 40% of people return to Illinois prison within three years of release. The Home for Good legislation is designed to break this cycle and ensure successful reentry in a humane and cost-effective manner.

Research proves that secure housing provides dignity and stability and helps people returning from prison comply with the conditions of their release. This reduces the chances of recidivism, which improves public safety. It also saves taxpayer money, which is critically important amid the state’s ongoing budget challenges. Data from the State of Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council shows that each event of recidivism costs taxpayers and society an average of $199,011 when adjusted for inflation. Annually, that adds up to $1.1 billion. That’s in addition to more than $2 billion the state spends each year to fund the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). A reasonable upfront investment in Home for Good can help reduce those costs over time.

“This legislation is deeply personal to me, as I understand the complex challenges that come with housing insecurity,” said Sen. Lakesia Collins, D-Chicago. “Home for Good will increase access to stable housing, giving more people a fair chance to successfully return to their communities and build a future.”

Home for Good will strengthen the state and local economy, as secure housing empowers more people to work and earn wages, growing the state’s tax base without raising taxes. Illinois Justice Project research found that every $1 invested in sustainably funding Home for Good will result in $5 in public savings and economic activity over three years. That’s a projected $477 million cost benefit within the first three years alone.

This bill will formalize into law existing services currently operating on a small scale and will provide coordinated, interagency collaboration and monitoring to ensure the program is cohesive and effective. More than smart policy, Home for Good is compassionate policy that fosters equity and opportunity for people returning from incarceration. It is people-centered and community-driven, prioritize collaboration, and was crafted with input from people who are formerly incarcerated as well as housing providers who have identified flaws and gaps in the current system based on their own experiences. The legislation consists of four primary components:

Rental Assistance: The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) will provide rental subsidies to returning residents, helping them access housing so they can focus on building stability and independence.

Wraparound Services: The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) will build on a legacy of successful community-based reentry organizations to create a coordinated system, providing reentry navigation and connecting people to needed services including behavioral health, physical health, job training, transportation, furniture and food, childcare, and more when they return home.

Reentry Housing Development: The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) will help address the statewide affordable housing shortage and minimize the possibility of landlord discrimination while creating economic opportunities for developers and communities impacted by high incarceration.

Creates the Home for Good Institute: The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) will establish the Home for Good Institute, which will provide cohort-based training and technical assistance to community-based organizations interested in developing and operating reentry housing. This also supports the creation of new rehab and construction jobs in long disinvested communities, fueling economic activity.


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