Transcript On the Front Lines: Building Skills for Reentry and Diversion

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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for Reentry
and Diversion
March 31, 2010
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Needle in a Haystack
Reentry and Housing in NYC
Presenters:
Ryan Moser, CSH
Suzanne Smith, CUCS
Judith Whiting, CSS
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Session Topics
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Why Reentry Housing?
Overview of Housing World
Affordable Housing
Supportive Housing
Other Key Topics for Reentry
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Why Reentry Housing?
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Need for Reentry Housing
• 54% of people in shelters report previous
incarceration
• 22% of NYC inmates report homelessness the
night before their arrest
• 16% of prison inmates report being homeless
before arrest
• Rates of shelter use are higher for people leaving
prison than mental health hospitals
• Prisons and jails treat more people for mental
illness than hospitals and residential treatment
combined
• Parolees in shelter are 7x more likely to abscond
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Thinking about Housing Needs
Low Need
Individuals who are able-bodied and employable, who face an
income/affordability gap; also may need short-term assistance
with community reintegration
Moderate Need
Individuals with limited employment history and educational
achievement, and who may have substance abuse, health or
mental health challenges
High Need
Individuals with disabilities such as serious
mental illness and chronic health and substance
abuse issues who will need longer-term services
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Overview of the Housing
Market and Options
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Where do
people
go when
they get
out?
On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Permanent Housing
Market
Affordable
Public Housing/Rental Assistance
Service Enriched or Shared
Permanent Supportive
Transitional
Residential
Jail
Homelessness
Treatment
Street
Bridge Rental
Assistance
Unsuitable
Housing
¾, ½ Housing
Shelter
Transitional
Program
Emergency
Setting
Emergency
Housing
Safe Haven
Hospitals
Treatment
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Market Housing
Pros
Cons
• Majority of Housing
Market
• Permanent
• Choice
• Independence
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Expensive
Competitive
Can be discriminatory
Quality varies
Landlords
Independence
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Affordable Housing
Pros
Cons
• Cost is controlled
• Quality is controlled
• May be in otherwise
inaccessible
neighborhoods
• Permanent
• Short supply
• Restrictive Eligibility
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Supportive Housing
Pros
Cons
• Supportive services
• Permanent
• Very restrictive
eligibility
• Limited degree of
independence
• Agencies vary
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Transitional Programs
Pros
Cons
• Accessibility
• Often has Services
• Not private landlords
• Target populations
may not meet real
needs
• Services may be
Coercive
• Rules and Regs
• Time Limited
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Shelter
Pros
Cons
• Availability
• Access point for other
resources
• Everything Else
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Aligning Needs and Resources
• What type of housing does a person want?
• What type of housing can they access?
• What support is needed to maintain it?
• What is the process?
▫ Preparation
▫ Application
▫ Follow-up
On the Front Lines: Building Skills for Reentry and Diversion
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Focus:
Affordable Housing
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
The Community Service Society . . .
. . . is a nonprofit organization founded in 1848
• Focuses on promoting living-wage jobs and work
supports to increase social and economic mobility
• Promotes employment and housing policies that
speed successful reentry of people with criminal
records
• Uses a large group of senior volunteers to help
individuals request, read, and repair their New
York rap sheets.
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
The Community Service Society (cont.)
• Monthly Reentry Roundtable gathers direct
service providers, formerly incarcerated people,
government agency representatives and
community activists to share information, build
alliances and advocate for reform
• Promotes policies/legislation to help eradicate
barriers to reentry in employment
Advocacy Day –MAY 4
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Types of Affordable Housing
•
•
•
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Home Ownership Programs
Affordable Rental Properties
Public Housing
Rental Assistance (Section 8)
Housing Authority
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
What is Affordable?
• Affordable housing is generally set to
income level
▫ Minimum and maximum income limits
▫ For people with a steady income, or longterm benefits
▫ Below income requirement you have to
have a portable voucher
• Generally designed so that people pay
between 30%-50% of their income on
rent
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
What does it provide?
Public Housing
• Affordability at 30% of income
• Building maintenance
• Limited support services at some buildings
Section 8
• Affordability at 30% of income
• Portability
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Documentation
• US Citizenship
• Proof of Identification (SS card/Birth Cert)
• Proof of Income (maximum/minimum
income)
• Statement of Assets
• Criminal Justice Barriers
• Availability!
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Fair Housing Law
• Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act)
prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of
dwellings based on race, color, religion, sex or national
origin.
• Title VIII was amended in 1988 (effective March 12, 1989) by the
Fair Housing Amendments Act, which:
▫ expanded the coverage of the Fair Housing Act to prohibit
discrimination based on disability or on familial status (presence
of child under age of 18, and pregnant women);
▫ established new administrative enforcement mechanisms with HUD
attorneys bringing actions before administrative law judges on
behalf of victims of housing discrimination; and
▫ revised and expanded Justice Department jurisdiction to bring suit
on behalf of victims in Federal district courts.
• Does not include protections for criminal justice, source of
income, history of housing-court involvement.
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Criminal Justice Barriers to NYCHA
Hard Barriers
Soft Barriers
• Methamphetamine
Production in Housing
Facility
• Lifetime Sex Offender
Registration
Requirement
• With other types of CJ
involvement NYCHA
has discretion
• Some bans can be
waived, appealed,
waiting periods can be
reduced
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
CONVICTION
FACTOR
INELIGIBILTY
PERIOD
PERSONS SUBJECT TO A
LIFETIME REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENT UNDER A
STATE SEX OFFENDER
REGISTRATION PROGRAM
INDEFINITE
FELONIES
CLASS A, B, or C
6 YEARS
CLASS D OR E
5 YEARS
MISDEMEANORS
CLASS A
4 YEARS
5 YEARS
CLASS B or UNCLASSIFIED
3 YEARS
4 YEARS
VIOLATIONS or DWI
INFRACTIONS
2 YEARS
3 YEARS
MULTIPLE CONVICTIONS
EXPLANATION
UNTIL THE CONVICTED PERSON IS NO LONGER SUBJECT TO THE LIFETIME
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT.
AFTER convicted person has served his/her sentence (including the completion of probation and/or
parole and the payment of any fine), and has no further convictions or pending charges. However,
where the convicted person CANNOT be released EARLIER THAN TEN YEARS from the date
of the eligibility interview, the family shall not be ineligible on this ground.
FOR ONE OR TWO CONVICTIONS – AFTER the convicted person has served his/her sentence
(including the completion of probation and/or parole and the payment of any fine), and has no
further convictions or pending charges.
FOR THREE OR MORE CONVICTIONS – (Class A Misdemeanors and/or Felonies within the last
TEN years) – AFTER the convicted person has served his/her sentence (including the completion
of probation and/or parole and the payment of any fine), with no further convictions or pending
charges.
FOR ONE OR TWO CONVICTIONS – AFTER the convicted person has served his/her sentence
(including the completion of probation and/or parole and the payment of any fine), with no further
convictions or pending charges.
FOR THREE OR MORE CONVITIONS – (Misdemeanors and/or Felonies within the last TEN years) –
AFTER the convicted person has served his/her sentence (including the completion of probation
and/or parole and the payment of any fine), and has no further convictions or pending charges.
FOR ONE OR TWO CONVICTIONS – AFTER the convicted person has served his/her sentence
(including the completion of probation and/or parole and the payment of any fine), and has no
further convictions or pending charges.
FOR THREE OR MORE CONVICTIONS – (Felonies, Misdemeanors, Violations or Driving While
Intoxicated (DWI) Infractions within the last TEN years) – AFTER the convicted person has
served his/her sentence (including the completion of probation and/or parole and the payment of
any fine), and has no further convictions or pending charges.
LONGEST APPLICABLE PERIOD
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Criminal Records Barriers:
NYCHA Section 8
Section 8 has fewer disqualifying
convictions
1. Felony convictions for violent behavior or
related to controlled substances or alcohol
2. Misdemeanors, violations or DWI convictions
related to controlled substances or alcohol
See “How to Get Section 8 or Public Housing Even
with a Criminal Record”
Legal Action Center, www.lac.org
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
NYCHA Informal Appeal/criminalrecords-based denial
1. Notice of ineligibility: within 30 days,
present evidence of rehabilitation or
eligibility to NYCHA
2. Second notice of ineligibility: if info
presented in response to 1st letter is
inadequate, NYCHA determines applicant
is ineligible. Hearing may be requested
within 90 days; can also submit more
info in the interim
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
NYCHA Informal Appeal/criminalrecords-based denial (cont.)
3. Send Request for Informal Hearing form
within 90 days.
4. Several months later, will be sent notice
of hearing date. If client will have a
lawyer represent her at the hearing,
need to notify NYCHA b/c they only hold
hearings with attorney representation on
certain days of the week.
5. Obtain and review copy of file in advance
by filing FOIL request.
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
NYCHA Informal Appeal/criminalrecords-based denial (cont.)
5. Gather evidence of rehabilitation
6. The administrative hearing:
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Hearing Officer
Worker from NYCHA Applications Office
NYCHA lawyer if client represented by a
lawyer
Applicant
Applicant’s attorney/paralegal (if represented)
Interpreter (if necessary)
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
NYCHA Informal Appeal/criminalrecords-based denial (cont.)
At the hearing:
• NYCHA personnel go first
• After that, applicant’s turn:
▫ If applicant has an legal representation, the
representative may ask applicant questions
▫ talk about rehabilitation
▫ present documents – as much as possible
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
NYCHA Informal Appeal/criminalrecords-based denial (cont.)
• Will receive decision 4 to 8 weeks after the
hearing
• If applicant wins the hearing, this simply
means she is returned to the waiting list – it
does NOT mean that she is immediately given
a NYCHA apartment or Section 8 voucher
• If applicant loses the hearing, she may bring
an Article 78 proceeding in NYS Supreme
Court within four months of the decision.
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Rap Sheet Cleanup
• Informal survey in 2009: between 25-40%
of New York State rap sheets contain what
appear to be errors
• Typical errors:
1. Missing disposition
2. Record is not sealed
3. Warrant reported as active
How to fix?
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Rap Sheet Cleanup (cont.)
Clients may obtain own rap sheets by working with
CSS’s Record Repair Program
Call (212) 614-5441 to make an appointment
Retired Senior Volunteers will obtain, explain and
help clean up rap sheet
NOTE: Rap sheets are confidential and not to be
shared with potential employers, potential
landlords or other service providers
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Role as a Discharge Planner
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Help with ID and connection to benefits
Rap-sheet clean-up
Facilitate applications
Demystify eligibility and process
Advocacy (if trained)
Make referrals to community providers
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Focus:
Supportive Housing
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
About CUCS
 Founded in 1979 at Columbia University
 Programs include:
▫ Housing Resource Center
▫ Training and Consulting Services
▫ Direct Service Programs: Street outreach & drop-in center,
transitional & permanent housing, single stop, supported
employment services, Project for Psychiatric Outreach to the
Homeless
 CUCS Training and Consulting Services offer
assistance with implementing WSM and other
evidence-based practices.
 CUCS offers services both in State Prisons as well
as on Rikers Island through the RIDE Center
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Supportive Housing is for people
who:
• Without housing, cannot access and make effective
use of treatment and supportive services - and
without supportive services, cannot get and keep
housing – even if they can afford it (this is
generally determined by history of homelessness and
clinical diagnosis of chronic health needs)
• Are being discharged or transitioning from
institutions: including jails, prisons, hospitals,
treatment programs, transitional programs and foster
care without a home to return to
• Cycle through institutional and emergency systems
and are at risk of long-term homelessness
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
What does Supportive Housing
Offer?
• Case management often with other
support services
• Building maintenance and supports in
single-site buildings
• Mobile services in scattered-site models
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Types of Supportive Housing– NYC
OMH Housing
NY – NY
Continuum of
Care
Other
Supportive
Housing
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Old School New York-New York
NY/NY I and II
• 100% targeted to people with serious mental
illness, exiting mental health hospitals and
chronic homelessness (365 of past 730 days)
High Service Needs I and II
• 100% targeted to people with serious mental
illness, 50% of the units are designated for
chronic homelessness
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
NY/NY I & II: Eligibility Criteria
To be NY/NY I or II eligible, you MUST meet OMH’s
SMI Criteria, AND be street or shelter homeless
either:
• FOUR or MORE Continuous Months in a City
Shelter, OR
• 14 of the past 60 Days in a City Shelter, OR
• 14 of the past 60 Days in a private shelter,
reception center, drop-in center, etc., OR
• Non-shelter street homeless (public places,
abandoned buildings, parks, subway, etc.)
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
NY/NY I & II: Important Info
• 14 of 60 Days in shelter/on street DO NOT have
to be consecutive
• Living with family or friends does NOT count as
homelessness
• Losing one’s housing immediately prior to
hospitalization/incarceration does not make one
NY/NY eligible, UNLESS one had at least 14 days
of street and/or shelter homelessness prior to
hospitalization/incarceration
• Hospitalization/incarceration time does not count
towards homelessness, but the clock stops
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
New York-New York III
Multiple target populations include:
▫ people with serious mental illness
▫ families with a disabled head of household
(SPMI and Non-SPMI)
▫ young adults (18-25) aging out of foster care
(at-risk of homelessness)
▫ people with active and disabling addiction (only
6 months homelessness required)
▫ people living with HIV/AIDS
▫ people completing substance use treatment (at
risk of homelessness)
On the Front Lines: Building Skills for Reentry and Diversion
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
NY/NY III: Types of Housing
There are no levels in NY/NY III housing, only
facility types:
• Congregate: All program residents live together
in one building, with staff located on-site
• Scattered Site: Program residents live in single
or shared apartments, ‘scattered’ throughout the
community; typically, staff is located off-site, and
visits the resident in their apartment
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Serious Mental Illness (SMI)
• An Axis I or II: Diagnosis of a Major Mental
Illness
AND one of the following:
▫ Receiving (or eligible for) SSI/SSDI due to mental
illness
OR
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
SMI, Continued
▫ Extended impairment in functioning due to mental
illness, as evidenced by at least 2 of the following
functional limitations over the past 12 months on a
recurring basis:
marked difficulties in self care
marked restriction of ADL
marked difficulties in maintaining social functioning
frequent deficiencies of concentration resulting in
failure to complete work/ home/school tasks or
reliance on psychiatric treatment, rehabilitation, and
supports
 GAF score of <50




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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Chronic Homelessness Criteria
• a single adult (18 years old or over) who is
disabled and has spent at least (365 days) of the
last 2 years in a shelter or living on the street,
not necessarily consecutively
or
• a single adult (18 years old or over) who has
spent at least (730 days) of the last 4 years in a
homeless shelter or living on the street, not
necessarily consecutively
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Chronic Homelessness &
Incarceration
For an applicant whose period of homelessness has included
time spent in one of the following institutions:
▫ Nursing Home
▫ Psychiatric Hospital
▫ Correctional Facility (prison or jail)
The relevant period for determining CH will be extended by
the number of days spent in the institution, up to a
maximum of 3 years or 1,095 days.
Meaning, although time spent in an institutional setting will
NOT count as homeless time, that time will not COUNT
AGAINST an applicant for NY/NY III.
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Types of Mental Health Supportive
Housing
PERMANENT (Supported Housing; Supported SRO)
• Permanent or POTENTIALLY Permanent
• Tenant can stay indefinitely
• Must be a good tenant, pay rent and follow the terms of their lease
or sublease
TRANSITIONAL (Supervised Community Residence, MICA CR,
Apartment Treatment)
• Typical Length of Stay is 18 – 24 months
• Most Level II Housing is mostly considered transitional
• Strong Rehabilitative Focus
• Program works to refer residents on to an alternate level of care
EXTENDED STAY (CR/SRO)
• Typical Length of Stay is between 2 – 5 years, perhaps longer
• Only the CR/SRO Model falls under Extended Stay
• No Rights of Tenancy
• Highly serviced and supportive settings with rehabilitative focus
• Program works to refer residents on to an alternate level of care
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Other Supportive Housing
• HASA: HASA Housing Specialist Completes HASA
Application. Contact Service Line: 212-9710626
• DHS General Population: DHS staff complete
Housing Application (Same Documentation as
HRA 2010e)
• Young Adult & Family Supportive Housing
▫ SMI/SED
▫ HRA 2010e application
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Reentry Supportive Housing
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Fortune Society Castle I and II
Hour Children
Regina Drew House
The Bridge, Iyana House
OMH Reentry Housing
FUSE
Projects in Development
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
OASAS Reentry Housing
• Brand New (January 2010) – Not Yet
Leasing
• Tied with Rockefeller Drug Law Reform
• Current Eligibility
▫ People being resentenced due to Rockefeller
Drug Law Reform
▫ Chemical Addiction Disorder
▫ At Risk of Homelessness
• Currently only 12 beds
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Help Gather Documentation
Proof of ID (SS card/Birth Cert)
Apply for Benefits
Psychosocial examination
Documented clinical condition (either
mental health or chemical addiction)
• Documented homelessness or risk of (on
letterhead)
• TB Tests
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•
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Supportive Housing Application
• In order to submit the HRA 2010e application electronically,
you must receive training from HRA or your agency’s
system administrator
• To sign up for the next available Online Application Training,
call HRA directly at (212) 495-2900, and select option 4
from their automated menu [email protected]
▫ You will receive a User ID and Password from HRA.
▫ If you are experiencing technical difficulties, please
call the Technical Support line at HRA, at: (212)
495-2900, #4
▫ Filing on-line gets results in 3 days or less
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
The HRA 2010e Serves 2 Purposes
• Residential placement into supportive housing for
people with SPMI
• Determining eligibility for NY/NY I, II & III
housing
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
A Complete HRA 2010e Packet
• HRA housing application
• A comprehensive psychosocial summary, completed within
6 months (180 days)
• TB Test & Clearance (PPD) – within the past year
• TB Clearance (PPD) Chest X-Ray - only if PPD is positive
• If MI: a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, signed and
dated by a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner, and
completed within 6 months; if no MI, a psychiatric
evaluation is not attached
• Provide thorough documentation of all street and shelter
homelessness on letterhead in your application packets!
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
MH Housing Interview Process
NYNY III
• The “Placement Entity” (OMH, HASA, DHS, or ACS) will schedule housing
interviews.
NYNY I and II, HSN and Young Adult Initiative (SED/SMI)
• Call CUCS for recommendations for specific, clinically appropriate housing
programs
• Mail or fax packet to each provider
• Schedule interviews with housing provider
• Continue to refer and schedule interviews until applicant is housed
SPOA
• CUCS provides specific referrals
• Referral source sends packets to each housing provider
• Schedule interviews with housing provider
• Case remains open until there is a disposition or the packet is expired.
• If 3 rejections, request case planning meeting
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
SPOA Housing: Eligibility Criteria
If the determination says:
• You are approved for MH Housing Community
Care or for Level II, and
• You are INELIGIBLE for NY/NY I and II
Then you are eligible for SPOA.
• May be NY/NY III Eligible: in a State Psychiatric
Center or Transitional Residence and AT RISK of
becoming Homeless
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
SPOA Housing Program Features
• Guaranteed Interviews
• Case Planning Meeting
• Enhanced Services Funds
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
SPOA: Application & Referral
• Submit the HRA 2010e to HRA’s Customized
Assistance Services for their Review
• Receive HRA Determination Letter
• Check to Ensure Client is ELIGIBLE for Supportive
Housing and NY/NY I and II INELIGIBLE
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
SPOA: App & Refer (continued)
• SPOA Housing Program Cover Sheet
• Mail/Fax Copy of HRA Application, Eligibility
Determination Letter and SPOA Cover Sheet to
CUCS
• SPOA Referrals Provided Within 3 Business Days
• Send Copies of Packet with SPOA Cover Letter to
Each Housing Provider Within 5 Business Days
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
SPOA: App & Refer (continued)
• Housing Providers Must Contact You Within 9
Business Days of the Receipt of Complete Packet
to Schedule Interview
• If there are Scheduling Problems, Call CUCS
Immediately
• Housing Providers Must Document Interview
Information on Housing Provider Response Form
(HPRF)
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
OMH - Reentry Coordination
System
• Implemented in July, 2009
• Manages the housing referral process for
seriously mentally ill individuals in NYS
Prisons being released to NYC
• Will be expanded to include referrals to
mental health services and outpatient
treatment
• Tracking outcomes
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Role as a Discharge Planner
• Help with ID and connection to benefits
▫ In facilities
▫ In community
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Demystify eligibility and process
Advocacy
Make referrals to community providers
Get trained to do psychosocial assessment
Get trained to fill out HRA 2010e
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Other Key Topics for
Discussion
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
T
• Where I Am Now:
• What I Really Want:
• What I Would Accept:
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Housing Preference Questions
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Number Of Roommates
Meals Provided/Cooking Facilities
Laundry/Linens Provided/Clean Own Room
Shared/Own Bathroom
Location
Curfews
Visitor Policy
Pets
Level Of Safety/Security
Social Service Staff On Site/Type of Programming
Sobriety Groups/Vocational Programs/ Money Management
Mix Of People In Facility
67
On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
¾ Housing
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•
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•
•
¾ vs. ½ -way housing
What does it look like?
Pros vs. cons
Preparing applicants
Advocating for applicants
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Working With Landlords
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Identifying Barriers
Identifying Apartments
Marketing for Tenants
Marketing for Service Providers
Responsiveness vs. Tenant Rights
Preventing Eviction
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MH Case Management and Act
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Intensive Case Management
Supportive Case Management
Blended Case Management
ACT – Assertive Community Treatment
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On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Sex Offender Registration Requirement
and Housing
• Legislation bars federal housing assistance to any
family that includes an individual subject to a
lifetime registration requirement as a sex
offender under any state’s laws
• In New York, three levels of registration based on
court determination of alleged “risk level” from
Level 3 (most serious) to Level 1 (least serious)
• New York: Level 3 and Level 2 now subject to
lifetime registration requirement
• Level 1: 20 yrs
71
On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Sex Offender Registration Requirement
and Housing (cont.)
• Despite federal legislation, approximately
3,000 lifetime registrants were granted
federal housing assistance (Section 8 etc.)
• Office of the Inspector General report
8/09: there is no law permitting
termination of assistance in this
circumstance
72
On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Sex Offender Registration Requirement
and Housing (cont.)
There is NO blanket residency
restriction in the
New York State Sex Offender Registration
Act (SORA).
And there is NO law or rule saying a private
landlord cannot rent to a registered sex
offender.
73
On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Sex Offender Registration Requirement
and Housing (cont.)
However:
A registered sex offender on
probation or parole whose offense
involved a victim under 18 yrs of age,
or ANY Level 3 offender on probation
or parole (or serving conditional
discharge sentence) may not enter an
area accessible to the public within
1000 feet of a school or other facility
caring for children
74
On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Sex Offender Registration Requirement
and Housing (cont.)
There are a number of county and local
laws restricting residency of registered sex
offenders – see
http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/nsor/pdfdocs/residencylaws.pdf
However, there have also been a number
of successful legal challenges to these
laws on the basis that New York State
SORA “preempts” these local laws
75
On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Resources
• Reentry.Net
• CUCS Website – www.cucs.org
• “How to Get Section 8 or Public Housing Even
with a Criminal Record” (Legal Action Center)
• “How to Gather Evidence of Rehabilitation” (Legal
Action Center)
• “How to Get and Clean Up Your New York State
Rap Sheet” (Legal Action Center)
• NYC HomeBase Homeless Prevention
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dhs/html/atrisk/homebase.shtml
76
On the Front Lines:
Building Skills for
Reentry and Diversion
Contact Information
• Ryan Moser, [email protected]
• Judith Whiting, [email protected]
• Suzanne Smith, [email protected]