| Training Addresses Access to Housing for Former Offenders
A new training curriculum—" Housing for a Second Chance: Family, Government and Community Partnerships for Housing People Involved in the Criminal Justice System"—addresses the housing challenges and opportunities facing former offenders. With this curriculum, training participants work through case studies, draft sample lease language, and navigate road maps for developing partnerships among law enforcement officials, service providers, and housing organizations.
Because no two communities are exactly alike, the curriculum can be tailored locally. Pilot training sessions held in Toledo, OH, and Providence, RI, provided participants with the opportunity to discuss and dispel the myths about reentry housing. As one training participant reflected, "I will apply how my company enforces its Tenant Selection Criteria in renting affordable units with a more sensitive and flexible review approach to screening individuals with criminal backgrounds."
One of the challenges was to create an effective training for the range of organizations a Weed and Seed site could employ in addressing this issue, such as housing providers, service providers, and police, probation, and parole officers. However, this interagency training provides a unique opportunity for focused discussion among the many organizations that are concerned about adequate and safe housing options for returning offenders. "The most useful/helpful aspect of the training was the opportunity for property managers to sit down at the same table as reentry advocates," commented another participant, "and have both sides come to an appreciation of each other's concerns about tenants."
The Local Initiatives Support Corporation's Community Safety Initiative (LISC CSI) developed the CCDO-funded curriculum in partnership with Family Justice. LISC CSI has long been a partner of CCDO, providing training and technical assistance to a number of Weed and Seed sites where community development corporations are primary partners.
LISC CSI can provide customized onsite training. The curriculum also is available on CD-ROM.
For more information:
Visit CCDO's Web site
or
Contact Marisa Omori, CSI Program Intern
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