The Importance of Serving People with Criminal Histories

I want to challenge my fellow housing professionals to think differently about our role in serving people with criminal histories. According to the FBI definition of a criminal record seventy million Americans have a criminal record - that's one in three adults who have a criminal history. We can serve people with criminal histories in two ways. First, we should lower admission barriers and consider creating - local preferences into our federal housing programs and waiting list priorities into our non-federal affordable housing apartment communities. Next, we should become second chance employers for people with criminal histories.

The National Institute of Justice reports that within three years of release 67.8% of released prisoners were rearrested and the term for this is called recidivism. Here in Lane County the recidivism rate is 26% because the State of Oregon and local jurisdictions have made intentional investments in reducing the recidivism rate. Homes for Good has a partnership with a local non-profit, Sponsors Incorporated, and through this partnership we have intentionally provided housing opportunities for individuals that have returned to Lane County after successfully completing their prison sentences. The individuals that we serve in partnership with Sponsors Inc. have a recidivism rate of 13% and our goal is to reduce the rate to less than 10% by continuing to enhance the case management and supportive services necessary to achieve this goal. We have developed two low-income housing tax credit apartment communities that prioritize admissions for this population, we have created a local preference for our Housing Choice Voucher program, we are also in the process of creating a local preference into our public housing apartment communities and lastly we are in the process of becoming a second chance employer.

To serve this population it is critical to create dynamic partnerships with local jurisdictions, law enforcement, parole and probation and non-profits that serve this population. It is paramount that we as housing providers forge non-traditional partnerships that create cost savings for the community more broadly and serving this population is a tangible way for us to achieve this important goal. One of the key drivers for reducing recidivism rates in your communities is the provision of affordable housing coupled with the necessary supportive services for this population to stabilize and succeed. We are excited about the work we are doing in our community in providing housing and services to people with criminal histories and we would be honored to share our experiences and resources as you might be considering prioritizing serving this population in the housing resources that you administer.

 

Tobacco-bond refinancing to save state $5 million

Exciting Programs and Events 

 

Nampa Housing Authority (NHA) has some exciting programs and events happening in 2018. All of our activities are free for our residents and the community.

Afterschool program- Our Afterschool program runs through the school year. The children read, complete homework and enjoy making crafts.

Low Impact Fitness program- This is a weekly low impact fitness class that is great for burning calories and strengthening muscles. This class is tailored to everyone' fitness level.

Outdoor Cardio & Dance event- This is event is based off a grant we received regarding awareness and prevention of diabetes in our community. We have had 2 events and will have one more in September. This class is a 2 hour event that is fun and energetic with dance and cardio.

Dining with Diabetes- Dining with Diabetes is a cooking school and nutrition education program designed for people with diabetes and their family members or caregivers.

 

Books, books and more books- NHA has partnered with First Book and the Campaign for Third Grade Level Reading. In doing so we hav e received free books and we give them out to children that come into our office, in our free mini libraries, at summer feeding sites and at our Resident Appreciation Day 

BBQ.

Summer Camp- Our summer camp is for our residents and the community. It is free and is 4 weeks long. We have partnered with 4-H and University of Idaho Extension. This year the children will be learning Robotics, Shark Tank: Money and Business, Food & Fun, and Exploring with Science.

Earlier this year Homes For Good Property Management Division Director, Darlene Kelly, began working with executives at the American Red Cross in Eugene to team-up on new extended-term Smoke Alarms. The Red Cross was awarded a grant for the installation of modern 10-year Lithium Battery Smoke Alarms. The installation program consists of various requirements that include trained volunteers at each unit to install new alarms, along with a brief educational component on Emergency Plans and Fire Safety for the residents who voluntarily sign-up for the Smoke Alarms.  

 

The initial property selected for the first installation was Parkview Terrace. The program was introduced at the May Resident Meeting.. A total of 95 of the 150 residents signed-up for the scheduled event on Saturday, June 9th. 

 

The Red Cross used the Parkview Community Room as a staging area for training, coordination and orchestration of the Smoke Alarm installations. The event was well planned, communicated and organized with approximately with 15 trained Red Cross volunteers spending the day on the project. 

  Additional Installations at Homes For Good properties are tentatively scheduled for later this Summer after the Wildfire Season. This includes Riverview Terrace in Cottage Grove and Firwood in Eugene. 

 

We thank our friends and colleagues at the American Red Cross including Shirley Keeton - Disaster Program Manager, Corinne Mares -  AmeriCorps Communications Coordinator, Carisa Hettich, Denise Juarez, Curtis Peetz, along with the entire staff and volunteers who generously contributed their time and professional skills in dedication to the safety and care of our residents at Parkview Terrace and Homes For Good.  

   

Family Self-Sufficiency 25th Anniversary Celebration

On June 10th the Family Self-Sufficiency program celebrated their 25th anniversary with a reception at the Hult Center Studio. We were joined by staff, participants, and partners and were honored to hear from two of our participants, Kari Johnson and Niyah Ross, about the successes they were able to achieve in the FSS program. Congratulations to the FSS team on 25 years of serving our residents!

 

The event also honored Charity Ghumman, FSS' volunteer extraordinaire, who has been working with the FSS program for 9 years. Charity has been with the FSS program since March 15, 2009. There are so many things Charity does with very little guidance or supervision and if she can she says yes when asked to assist other staff in Resident Services. She is always pleasant and fun to work with and so quiet most of the time we don't even know she is in her office. We do know there are few volunteers like her who show up week after week, year after year and we are so grateful to have her on our team. Charity, we thank you.

Though advance registration for the NAHRO Summer Conference - Innovate 2018: IMAGINE - has closed, you'll still be able to register on-site in San Francisco starting on Thursday, July 26.

Innovate 2018: IMAGINE offers a packed schedule of educational sessions focused on current and emerging industry issues. The conference also features networking events, a local HCD tour, inspiring plenary speakers, and other special events. 

And for commissioners, NAHRO Professional Development will once again offer Innovate 2018: IMAGINE registrants an exclusive opportunity to attend our Commissioners' Fundamentals seminar.  This popular training (led by NAHRO Faculty member Jim Inglis) is available at a substantially discounted rate and will not require an extended hotel stay. Commissioners' Fundamentals will run parallel to concurrent sessions, meaning that seminar attendees will have full access to (and won't miss a moment of) all of Innovate 2018: IMAGINE's main events, including the Opening Plenary Session and networking receptions. Just a few spaces remain open - register on-site!

There's still time! You can get flights on Southwest from Portland and Seattle for under $200. 

For more information on the conference -  click here! 

NAHRO offers a variety of awards and recognition to persons who have made outstanding contributions to the housing and community development field. Make sure your deserving candidate is nominated for one of the following awards:

 

Deadlines for these awards: AUGUST 15, 2018.

The winners will be honored at NAHRO's National Conference

in Atlanta, GA: October 25-27, 2018

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NAHRO Fellowship Program  venerates recipients who have demonstrated exemplary qualities as housing and community development advocates, professionals and/or volunteers.     
Deadline for applications: July 1, 2018

 

Roll of Achievers showcases residents who have made noteworthy efforts to improve as an individual or as a member of the community. Applications are accepted all year.

For additional information on these awards, click here.