W believe we should end housing discrimination against people with criminal records. Crime Free housing should be defined by how people live today, and not what they have done in their pasts.
Finding safe, affordable, and stable housing is a cornerstone of successful re-entry. Housing remains elusive for people with a criminal history and there is a disparate impact to people of color. We must ensure that people leaving jails and prisons are provided access to housing or we will pay over $60,000 a year to house them in a local jail. Without access to housing, people with criminal records are unable to take steps necessary to successfully reintegrate into our communities. This is especially true for African-Americans and others who are overrepresented in the criminal justice system.
HUD allows broad discretion to the local PHA in terms of how they establish policy to address the housing needs of people when criminal backgrounds are at issue. By comparing Riverside County Housing Authority policies to the HUD requirements it is clear that Riverside County’s overly restrictive, and extremely vague, policies are having a negative impact on its’ ability to provide subsidized housing to a significant segment of the current homeless population. HUD Secretary Julián Castro said on NPR, “we want to ensure that folks who have an arrest record or conviction get an effective second chance in life. And we believe that the opportunity to secure an affordable, decent place to live is one part of that effective second chance. So we put guidance out that basically says, if you're a landlord that you cannot have a blanket policy that anybody with an arrest or conviction record is automatically not going to be considered for an apartment or a home”.
Riverside County’s “Zero Tolerance” policy is a long way from that of HUD’s recommendations. The Formerly Incarcerated & Convicted People’s Movement, Voice of the Ex-Offender, National Employment Law Project, Tulane University Law School and The Brennan Center for Justice have developed a model PHA policy. Below is a comparison of Riverside’s policy and the model.
I strongly support the County of Riverside’s Public Housing Authority adopting a more reasoned and effective policy that will not pose discriminatory barriers to receiving housing assistance. Effective housing policies will reduce homelessness, lower recidivism, and significantly improve public safety.
We urge Riverside County to:
• Decrease Criminal Look Back Period to 3 Years
• Increase Affordable Housing Units/Availability
• Create housing reentry solutions for returning resident
Riverside County’s Current Policy:
http://www.harivco.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=A...
Model PHA Policy:
Updates
July 7, 2016
The momentum behind this petition highlights a widespread recognition that stable housing is essential for meaningful reintegration. This growing support reinforces our obligation to challenge the restrictive policies currently limiting opportunities for so many people.
Reached 100 supporters
July 7, 2016
28 Comments
All people deserve to have the most basic of needs and second and third chances if necessary to get back on their feet. Condemning them and their families to a life of uncertainty and insecurity is not the type of justice we proclaim as a society. America's, and the World's formerly incarcerated and their families deserve better.
This is serious!!! I had been denied housing because of my past; as a result, my family and I had to be homeless for several months. In addition, my current living situation is faulty. I had to settle for less because I have a family and they need shelter. Furthermore, this is discussing because my family never committed a crime. They are being punished for something they did not do, nor did they know me when I committed any crime. All in all, I have a job, a college degree, and family, but my nonviolent felony triumph over all my accomplishments in relation to Housing. #letmelive
All people deserve a second chance. Housing should be made available for everyone. Stop the discrimination against people with criminal records. They have already paid their dues to society, why continue to punish them. Thanks, Yolanda
Housing is so critical to the human experience that it is a necessity. To think that we would deny housing assistance to people based on things that cannot be changed is absurd. People cannot change their pasts, they can only do better TODAY, so change current policies so that they can do better today.....or keep spending over $60,000 a year to put them back in jail.
I work with Probationers-AB109 trying to reintegrate into the community with jobs and housing; this is so true in San Bernardiono County too
Everyone should have the ability to have a home to live in the system needs to stop throwing people away like so much garbage and causing more homelessness in America.
Keep up the great work!!
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
By signing, you accept our Terms and Privacy Policy and agree to occasional emails about petitions. Unsubscribe anytime.
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
W believe we should end housing discrimination against people with criminal records. Crime Free housing should be defined by how people live today, and not what they have done in their pasts.
Finding safe, affordable, and stable housing is a cornerstone of successful re-entry. Housing remains elusive for people with a criminal history and there is a disparate impact to people of color. We must ensure that people leaving jails and prisons are provided access to housing or we will pay over $60,000 a year to house them in a local jail. Without access to housing, people with criminal records are unable to take steps necessary to successfully reintegrate into our communities. This is especially true for African-Americans and others who are overrepresented in the criminal justice system.
HUD allows broad discretion to the local PHA in terms of how they establish policy to address the housing needs of people when criminal backgrounds are at issue. By comparing Riverside County Housing Authority policies to the HUD requirements it is clear that Riverside County’s overly restrictive, and extremely vague, policies are having a negative impact on its’ ability to provide subsidized housing to a significant segment of the current homeless population. HUD Secretary Julián Castro said on NPR, “we want to ensure that folks who have an arrest record or conviction get an effective second chance in life. And we believe that the opportunity to secure an affordable, decent place to live is one part of that effective second chance. So we put guidance out that basically says, if you're a landlord that you cannot have a blanket policy that anybody with an arrest or conviction record is automatically not going to be considered for an apartment or a home”.
Riverside County’s “Zero Tolerance” policy is a long way from that of HUD’s recommendations. The Formerly Incarcerated & Convicted People’s Movement, Voice of the Ex-Offender, National Employment Law Project, Tulane University Law School and The Brennan Center for Justice have developed a model PHA policy. Below is a comparison of Riverside’s policy and the model.
I strongly support the County of Riverside’s Public Housing Authority adopting a more reasoned and effective policy that will not pose discriminatory barriers to receiving housing assistance. Effective housing policies will reduce homelessness, lower recidivism, and significantly improve public safety.
We urge Riverside County to:
• Decrease Criminal Look Back Period to 3 Years
• Increase Affordable Housing Units/Availability
• Create housing reentry solutions for returning resident
Riverside County’s Current Policy:
http://www.harivco.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=A...
Model PHA Policy:
Updates
July 7, 2016
The momentum behind this petition highlights a widespread recognition that stable housing is essential for meaningful reintegration. This growing support reinforces our obligation to challenge the restrictive policies currently limiting opportunities for so many people.
Reached 100 supporters
July 7, 2016
28 Comments
“Each of us is a book waiting to be written, and that book, if written, results in a person explained.” ― Thomas M. Cirignano, The Constant Outsider I have been clean now for 16 years and six months with God’s help, and I am trying to stay that way, but with no help for people who have compromised the contract of life it is very hard not to go back to that way of life. I want people to realize that is why people do time, get out and do it again. They can’t survive any other way.” My wife and I are serious about becoming a solution to this and many more issues that plague the lives of formerly Incarcerated individuals. yes let's raise our voices to this housing discrimination for felons.
All people deserve to have the most basic of needs and second and third chances if necessary to get back on their feet. Condemning them and their families to a life of uncertainty and insecurity is not the type of justice we proclaim as a society. America's, and the World's formerly incarcerated and their families deserve better.
This is serious!!! I had been denied housing because of my past; as a result, my family and I had to be homeless for several months. In addition, my current living situation is faulty. I had to settle for less because I have a family and they need shelter. Furthermore, this is discussing because my family never committed a crime. They are being punished for something they did not do, nor did they know me when I committed any crime. All in all, I have a job, a college degree, and family, but my nonviolent felony triumph over all my accomplishments in relation to Housing. #letmelive
All people deserve a second chance. Housing should be made available for everyone. Stop the discrimination against people with criminal records. They have already paid their dues to society, why continue to punish them. Thanks, Yolanda
Housing is so critical to the human experience that it is a necessity. To think that we would deny housing assistance to people based on things that cannot be changed is absurd. People cannot change their pasts, they can only do better TODAY, so change current policies so that they can do better today.....or keep spending over $60,000 a year to put them back in jail.
I work with Probationers-AB109 trying to reintegrate into the community with jobs and housing; this is so true in San Bernardiono County too
Everyone should have the ability to have a home to live in the system needs to stop throwing people away like so much garbage and causing more homelessness in America.
Keep up the great work!!
Help this petition grow
Share it with friends to help reach 250 signatures.
Sign Petition
We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.
Add a comment?
Your signature will be added via .
Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.
Signing with Google or Facebook verifies your signature instantly — no email needed.
By signing, you accept our Terms and Privacy Policy and agree to occasional emails about petitions. Unsubscribe anytime.
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
“Each of us is a book waiting to be written, and that book, if written, results in a person explained.” ― Thomas M. Cirignano, The Constant Outsider I have been clean now for 16 years and six months with God’s help, and I am trying to stay that way, but with no help for people who have compromised the contract of life it is very hard not to go back to that way of life. I want people to realize that is why people do time, get out and do it again. They can’t survive any other way.” My wife and I are serious about becoming a solution to this and many more issues that plague the lives of formerly Incarcerated individuals. yes let's raise our voices to this housing discrimination for felons.