How State-Led Housing Initiatives Can Break the Cycle of Criminal Justice Involvement

Hosted by The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).

Improving access to safe and affordable housing is integral to any efforts aimed at reducing peoples’ involvement in the criminal justice system and establishing stability in the community. While many states are increasingly recognizing the large, persistent barrier that homelessness (and a lack of affordable housing) presents to local communities in advancing criminal justice goals, they are often left wondering how they can make real changes.

This webinar focuses on how critical state leaders are to enabling local communities in their efforts to reduce homelessness for people in the criminal justice system, particularly people with serious mental illness. It also highlights examples of state actions to increase access and connections to rental assistance for people in the criminal justice system, and speakers describe how their local communities are leveraging state programs to advance or pilot local housing priorities.

Speakers:

• Rachel Citak, LISW-S, Associate Director of Forensic Case Management, Frontline Services
• Karla Colonnieves, MSW, Homeless Programs Specialist, State Housing Vouchers, Colorado Department of Local Affairs
• Thomas Coyne, Senior Policy Analyst, Behavioral Health, CSG Justice Center
• Meghan Patton, Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Court Coordinator, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, Ohio
• Zac Schaffner, Supportive Housing Services Manager, Office of Homeless Initiatives, Colorado Department of Local Affairs

Photo by Breno Assis on Unsplash