Locked Up: How Incarceration Impacts Homelessness

Leading Families Home • September 7, 2021

Homelessness Meets Incarceration

Person in orange prison uniform behind bars, hands on bars, tattoo visible.

"National research suggests that up to 15% of incarcerated people experience homelessness in the year before admission to prison. And city- and state-level studies of homeless shelters find that many formerly incarcerated people rely on shelters, both immediately after their release and over the long term." - PrisonPolicy.org


What's the connection between being incarcerated and being homeless? Studies show that homelessness is higher among specific populations, including those who have been incarcerated more than once and those who have recently been released from jail. ( See stats )


Unsheltered homeless people are more likely to "interact with the justice system" than sheltered homeless people. ( urban.org ) The reason? Unsheltered homeless people have nowhere to go - they have no home, and therefore, live their lives in the open. This includes sleeping, urinating, and asking for money - all actions which are criminalized by society. 

Man with dreadlocks sits, head down, on a concrete ledge marked

"Almost 50,000 people a year enter homeless shelters immediately after exiting incarceration." - endhomelessness.org


“We suspected that many of the problems in our communities for which elected officials seek criminal justice system solutions are actually problems of homelessness, mental illness, and untreated substance use disorder,” said Doug Smith, Texas Criminal Justice Coalition (TCJC) Senior Policy Analyst. (One Size FAILS All, TCJC Report)


Mental and Physical Health


Ex-prisoners are not equipped for the transition back into civilian life. Pre-existing mental illness is exacerbated by incarceration, and is a leading cause in both substance abuse and homelessness. Among ex-offenders, those with mental illness have a significantly higher than average rate of homelessness and housing insecurity. “37% of people in state and federal prisons have been diagnosed with serious psychological distress and 66% of people in federal prisons reported not receiving any mental health care while incarcerated.” (Mental Health, prisonpolicy.org)


The lack of assistance and criminalization of mental illness leads to and increases due to incarceration and police interaction. Coming out of incarceration, ex-prisoners can experience increased rates of post-traumatic stress, anxiety, impaired decision-making, and more, making it harder for them to function in a society with little resources in place to treat them. (Indicators of Mental Health Problems Reported by Prisoners and Jail Inmates 2011 - 12, U.S. Department of Justice)


Because of cost and space, many patients suffering from debilitating mental illnesses are discharged from hospitals without proper housing or resources set up and leading to homelessness, and eventually, incarceration. In a study of 132 patients discharged from Columbus State Hospital in Ohio, 36% became homeless within six months. (250,000 mentally Ill are Homeless. 140,000 seriously mentally Ill are Homeless, mentalillnesspolicy.org)


At the Shelterhouse in Cincinnati, Ohio, 47% of the homeless individuals served by the organization were mentally ill and 56% disabled. - (2021 Shelterhouse Statistics, shelterhousecincy.org)

Mental illness is indisputably a primary factor in homelessness and incarceration alike, and is escalated when it interacts with both. In addition, mental illness is a common cause of substance abuse and addiction which is heavily criminalized in the United States and leads to a higher rate of incarcerated homeless individuals who suffer from addiction. When a homeless individual becomes addicted to drugs or alcohol, most of the money they can come up with goes to pay for their addiction. Addicts and substance abusers are faced with disciplinary action instead of access to rehabilitation and mental health assistance which perpetuates the cycle of substance abuse, homelessness, and incarceration.


Housing and Shelter


Another factor in the relationship between homelessness and incarceration is housing affordability and rent issues. “Stable housing is the foundation of successful reentry from prison. Data shows that many formerly incarcerated people struggle to find places to live due to discrimination by public housing authorities and private property owners.” These authorities and owners implement their own screening criteria to determine if an applicant merits housing.


The process relies upon criminal record checks as a primary source of information. Along with this, credit checks, high security deposits, and other housing application requirements such as professional references serve as concrete barriers for people coming out of incarceration. With a lack of access to stable housing, the access to healthcare services, job security, and educational programs is also limited and virtually impossible. – https://prisonpolicy.org/reports/housing.html#raceandgender


While it was found that 203 out of every 10,000 formerly incarcerated people were homeless, nearly three times as many - 570 out of every 10,000 - were housing insecure. Research has also uncovered notable demographic differences by expanding our view to the housing insecure population: Hispanics, for example, were more likely than people of any other race to live in marginal housing. Men had much higher rates of marginal housing than women, resulting in high rates of housing insecurity. And older formerly incarcerated people experienced the highest rates of housing insecurity. - https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/housing.html#raceandgender


Oppressed Populations & Discrimination


The role race, gender, and sexuality plays in incarceration and homelessness must be addressed in order to better understand the unique circumstances populations face. Oppression and discrimination hinders individuals from obtaining the resources they need and being treated with fairness and compassion. Because of disproportionate policing in Black and Latinx communities and racial disparities in convictions and sentencing, Black and Latinx people are more likely to be involved with the criminal justice system and, as a result, are more likely to face housing discrimination because of a criminal record. Excessive policing is a major factor in the misrepresentation of criminality in Black and Latinx communities. This discrimination follows these communities through the justice system and prevents equal access to resources after exiting. https://housingmatters.urban.org/feature/communities-can-better-prevent-homelessness-through-housing-and-justice-system-partnerships


Gender, race, and ethnicity combine to put women of color at greater risk of unsheltered homelessness. Black women experience the highest rate of sheltered homelessness – nearly four times the rate of white men, and twice as high as the rate of Black men. Women of color have been excluded from social resources necessary to succeed after incarceration at a rate higher than other populations. 

(See the statistics)- https://prisonpolicy.org/reports/housing.html#raceandgender


These disparities between populations and unequal access to resources must be recognized. Working toward more inclusive and anti-oppressive policies is essential to creating opportunity for ex-prisoners and homeless individuals. 


There is a strong link between incarceration and homelessness among formerly incarcerated LGBTQ youth. LGBTQ youth face higher rates of detention and incarceration. “A 2015 study shows that 20% of all youth in the juvenile justice system identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning, gender nonconforming, or transgender, even though they compose only 5-7% of the total U.S. youth population.” This high percentage of justice-involved LGBTQ may be driven by their even higher rates of homelessness. Homelessness is the greatest predictor of involvement with the juvenile justice system, and 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBT. Incarceration can be detrimental to young people’s physical and mental health, their relationships, and their social and economic prospects. Juvenile delinquency records can prevent them from accessing housing and finding employment once released, and they face similar discrimination but public housing authorities as incarcerated adults. Finding stable housing post-release and eradicating discrimination based on criminal records is of utmost importance to avoid cycles of reincarceration, especially when this cycle starts at such a young age. 

https://prisonpolicy.org/blog/2019/01/22/lgbtq_youth/


As youth transition into adulthood, the disproportionate amount of LGBTQ homeless and incarcerated people continues to rise. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual people are incarcerated at three times the rate of straight people. https://prisonpolicy.org/blog/2019/01/22/lgbtq_youth/

If these forms of intersectional discrimination and layered oppression are not addressed, there cannot be steps made toward equity for all populations.


What can be done about this interaction of homelessness and incarceration?


In its report, the National Low Income Housing Coalition states that "the causes of homelessness among former prisoners include discrimination, a reliance on criminal records to screen potential tenants, the shortage of affordable housing, large security deposits, and other application requirements like professional references." (Nowhere to go: Homelessness among formerly incarcerated people)


Also noted as causes of homelessness among the incarcerated: lack of safe and stable housing, lack of healthcare services, obtaining employment, and access to educational opportunities.


TCJC recommends a better reentry system that helps people understand their housing options before they leave prison. The system should also help them obtain housing and rental assistance.


"The report also encourages cities and states to “ban the box” asking about criminal records on housing applications, end the criminalization of homelessness, and expand social services for people without a home."

Building More Than Shelter: Carla Prenkert on the Impact of Leading Families Home

May 27, 2026
For Carla Prenkert, founder and director of Build the Children , supporting families in need has always been about more than providing necessities. It is about helping people feel seen, supported and capable of building a better future for themselves and their children. Her connection to Leading Families Home began in 2020 through a school supply and essentials drive supporting families staying at the organization’s Beach House shelter on Erie Street. After hearing about the shelter through an acquaintance who worked as a social worker, Prenkert decided to learn more about the organization and its mission. “That experience really tugged at my heart,” Prenkert said. “I immediately saw how important their work was and how committed they were to helping families move forward.” What began as a simple introduction quickly grew into an ongoing partnership centered around helping families experiencing homelessness find stability and hope. More Than Temporary Shelter According to Prenkert, what sets Leading Families Home apart is its focus on long-term success rather than short-term solutions. The organization’s approach helps families build the foundation for independence by offering guidance, resources and opportunities to rebuild their lives. “They don’t just provide shelter,” she said. “They provide life-changing support.” Over the years, Prenkert has witnessed countless examples of transformation among families served by Leading Families Home. “I’ve seen young mothers earn their GEDs, parents regain custody of their children and fathers complete job training programs and find stable work,” Prenkert said. “They help people rediscover their confidence and realize they are capable of more.” She also praised the organization’s ongoing support for families after they transition out of shelter programs. “They continue to be a resource long after families leave,” she said. “That continued support is incredibly important because stability doesn’t happen overnight.” Changing Perspectives on Homelessness Prenkert believes one of the biggest misconceptions about homelessness is the idea that it could never happen to the average person. “No one is immune,” she said. “A series of unfortunate events, rising housing costs, low wages and exhausted resources can put families in very difficult situations.” She explained that many families also face barriers the public often doesn’t see, including challenges related to documentation, paperwork, finances and prejudice. As a retired nurse with more than 40 years of experience, Prenkert said partnering with Leading Families Home has deepened her understanding of the realities families face and changed her own perspective. “This work educated me and removed any prejudice I may have had,” she said. “I’ve witnessed the power of making people feel seen, valued and supported.” She added that families cannot begin healing or planning for the future while focused solely on survival. “People can’t truly move forward until they’re in a place where they can finally breathe,” Prenkert said. Strengthening the Community Together Prenkert also credits Leading Families Home with helping strengthen collaboration among nonprofit organizations throughout the Toledo community. “They do an amazing job making the needs of families experiencing homelessness known and helping organizations understand how they can help,” she said. She explained that the partnership has also helped Build the Children better understand the specific needs of children and families living in shelters, allowing the organization to provide more meaningful support. For Prenkert, one of the most fulfilling parts of the partnership has been the opportunity to bring joy and encouragement to families during difficult times. “Leading Families Home creates the foundation that allows families to move beyond basic survival,” she said. “That gives organizations like ours the opportunity to come alongside them and provide moments of joy, love and hope.” Looking Ahead As Leading Families Home continues its mission, Prenkert hopes to see even more people step forward to support the organization and the families it serves. “It takes a community to make this happen,” she said. “There is no ‘we’ and ‘they.’ We all have a responsibility to help each other.” When asked why Leading Families Home’s work matters, Prenkert’s answer was simple. “It comes down to basic morality and humanity,” she said. “Most people would do better if they were given the opportunity and support to succeed.”

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