Purpose: Once Incarcerated Anonymous is conducting a survey to identify how many people with criminal backgrounds have been homeless after their release from incarceration; how many times someone was homeless after incarceration; the difference between urban, suburban, and rural formerly incarcerated people and housing stability.
Collecting this data is crucial because a proposed hearing was issued on
April 10, 2024 by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on new regulations governing housing rights for people with criminal backgrounds: 24 CFR Parts 5, 245, 882, 960, 966, and 982 [Docket No. FR-6362-P-01] RIN 2501-AE08:
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has proposed a rule to amend regulations for certain HUD Public and Indian Housing and Housing Programs. The proposed amendments aim to:
Revise existing regulations governing admission for applicants with criminal records or a history of involvement with the criminal justice system. Address eviction or termination of assistance based on illegal drug use, drug-related criminal activity, or other criminal activity. Require PHAs and assisted housing owners to consider multiple sources of information (including recency and relevance of prior criminal activity) before making discretionary denials or terminations. Balance minimizing unnecessary exclusions with maintaining health, safety, and peaceful enjoyment for residents, staff, and communities. Clarify existing obligations and reduce the risk of violating nondiscriminatory laws.
HUD has designated people with
criminal backgrounds as a protected class since October 1, 2021. Individuals with such backgrounds face consistent scrutiny based on their criminal history, whether recent or historical. Redefining Homelessness for people with criminal backgrounds is necessary due to the collective collateral consequences that are associated with having a criminal background, which include but are not limited to mental health and/or substance abuse disorder. This information is vital to future policy changes and innovative programs securing housing provisions for people with criminal backgrounds.
Homelessness Redefined: Once Incarcerated Anonymous defines Justice Impacted Homelessness – as anyone who has a criminal background, who does not have their name on a lease, anyone who is couch hopping; and/or does not own a house or rental property as being homeless.
Once Incarcerated Anonymous defines Justice Impacted Homelessness Endangerment - as living arrangement agreements (verbal or written) with others (relationship, family, or friend) and are on parole or probation and often threaten to be reported to your parole or probation officer to be sent back to prison or jail.
Volunteering: This survey is voluntary. You will not get paid or will ever be paid for participating in this survey. By participating in this survey, you are contributing your lived experiences to research done by Once Incarcerated Anonymous. By participating in this survey, you are agreeing to release your rights to data, picture(s), video(s), or other information collected by Once Incarcerated Anonymous related to this survey. You understand you have no rights or responsibilities in relation to this survey, how OIA uses this survey, and/or its outcomes.