The Impact of Community Based Organizations: Homelessness and Housing Insecurity
Homelessness and Housing Insecurity
Finding housing after incarceration is a very important step in making a successful reentry. However, individuals with a criminal record often face compounding barriers such as discriminatory policies, economic insecurity, and weak social ties. These barriers all work together in order to keep individuals with a criminal record from obtaining housing and having a stable place to live.
Being homeless, unstably housed, or living in a high crime neighborhood all increase an individual’s risk of reoffending. Finding housing after incarceration is one of the most difficult needs to be met for formerly incarcerated individuals for many reasons such as leaving prison without supervision, being screened during the application for public housing, poor economic status, and weak social ties.
Recently more and more individuals have been leaving prison without post-release supervision which makes the reentry process much harder. Without post-release supervision being provided the need for community-based organizations is amplified. The trend of individuals in prison “maxing out” their sentence leaves them without parole officers who sometimes can be access points for reintegration services. The lack of guidance and supervision after incarceration leaves individuals homeless and feeling lost on how to go about obtaining the >basic necessities to survive.
One of the most prominent barriers to obtaining housing after incarceration is the restriction on subsidized housing or terminations of tenancy based on a criminal conviction. Public Housing Authorities are instructed to consider the criminal history of applicants and to do screenings of applicants. The War on Drugs specifically led to policy changes in which if any member of the household is convicted of drug use, the public housing is allowed to evict entire families. These types of policies do not only affect the individual, but it also effects their parents, children, significant others, and anyone else living with them. Policies like these leave individuals and their families homeless and at a higher risk of entering or reentering the criminal legal system.
Another aspect that leads to insecure housing or homelessness after incarceration is due to poor economic status. Since individuals leaving incarceration are often left back into society without resources and have a hard time getting a job due to their criminal record, they are often unable to afford housing. Housing prices are increasing, and formerly incarcerated individuals are unable to obtain jobs to pay for those increasing housing prices.
By providing housing through community-based organizations, it allows for a much easier transition back into the community. Stable housing provides formerly incarcerated individuals a place to orient themselves which will also help with getting employment and reestablishing a social network. Providing housing through community-based programs does not only give formerly incarcerated individuals a place to live, but it also gives them what they need in order to start a successful process of reentry.
All residents in New Hanover Count specifically are experiencing a housing crisis which leaves those with other barriers, such as a criminal record, at even more of a risk of homelessness. As of 2025, over half of renters in New Hanover County are considered housing cost burdened. Even if someone leaving incarceration were able to find housing, they would still be living in poverty in New Hanover County due to the high cost of living. The lack of affordable housing negatively impacts everyone in the community and compounds with other barriers faced my justice involved individuals to leave more and more homeless.
Most individuals leaving incarceration do not have housing and are left homeless. For this reason, LINC offers both transitional housing and permanent supportive housing. The transitional housing at the Marvin E. Roberts Transitional Living Campus provides individuals with housing once they are released from incarceration along with case management, job training, opportunities for educational attainment, and treatment programs. These services and the campus as a whole gives people a stable environment where they can foster opportunities for a better future.
Although transitional and permanent supportive housing is a great resource, the spaces are limited. For this reason, LINC also works with individuals to provide housing referrals. Case managers at LINC help connect individuals to housing, which is crucial in a society that punishes those with a criminal conviction. The Healthy Opportunities Pilot at LINC, which recently lost statewide funding, was extremely helpful in connecting individuals to housing in the 2023-2024 fiscal year. While the Healthy Opportunities Pilot was functioning 839 cases were referred to the program and 682 cases opened and were provided with housing and shelter.
Stable housing has been found effective in decreasing incarceration and hospital stays. Housing for formerly incarcerated individuals limits their contact with the institutional cycle and pushes them towards being functional members of society. Therefore, the whole community would benefit from some form of transitional housing or housing referrals provided through the community organization. More individuals would not be experiencing homelessness, which leads to better public safety for everyone and an opportunity for success for people with a criminal record.
About the Author
Jessica Yohey is a Master’s degree student at UNC-Wilmington in the Criminology and Sociology program. She is passionate about learning about today’s criminal legal system and the ways in which it can be improved to provide more justice for all. Jessica is especially interested in the impact of community-based organizations and the process of reentry. Currently interning for Eyes on the Law, she looks forward to learning more about the impact LINC has on the community, and is excited for the experiences that LINC and EOL provide. Jessica plans to use this experience to guide her educational journey!