Individuals released from incarceration in Georgia face several challenges when they prepare to transition back into society. One of these hurdles might include finding housing.
Not having reliable shelter can cause stress and emotional difficulties. This could interfere with finding a job, addressing medical needs and forming relationships. A stable home, on the other hand, may effectively prevent recidivism and give people a chance to improve their life.
Economic stability
Perhaps the most obvious reason housing is a necessity is that people have a place of shelter. According to the State of Georgia, Department of Supervision, formerly incarcerated individuals have some options when seeking housing after their release. These options include the following:
- Reentry Partnership Housing (RPH) is a type of short-term housing assistance
- Transitional Housing for Offender Reentry (THOR) is an online resource that identifies housing options including recovery residences
With reliable housing, people can secure better economic stability and move further away from some of the influences so closely associated with criminal activity.
Emotional availability
Homelessness can have a detrimental impact on a person’s emotional well-being. People might find themselves willing to engage in illegal behavior to get necessities. According to the National Library of Medicine, research references this as General Strain Theory or GST. As a result of experiencing this stress, people might develop anxiety, depression and resentment.
Having housing can increase mental stability and physical comfort allowing people more emotional availability to address other critical changes in their life. This could include getting a job or pursuing an education. Many people who experience incarceration have no idea where to start upon their release. Housing programs and housing availability can facilitate a smoother transition which might prevent recidivism.
