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."

The Blade: Leading Families Home celebrates acquisition of Family House

March 13, 2026
Deborah Nugent knows firsthand how important Family House and Leading Families Home are to the homeless in Toledo. While she was battling addiction, Ms. Nugent lived in the Family House shelter on Indiana Avenue, she said. She now works as a residential staff supervisor for Leading Families Home, which acquired the service organization in January. “Giving back is the greatest thing you can do,” she said. “These are our neighbors. ... You don’t want them to slip and fall, you want to help them.” Ms. Nugent was joined by Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz and other city leaders Thursday to celebrate Leading Families Home’s acquisition in January of Family House through a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Indiana Avenue shelter. “For many years, our organizations have operated side by side within the same space, working to help families,” said Jennifer Jacobs, executive director of Leading Families Home. “We are excited to say we are now operating together as one big family, united in our mission to serve families experiencing homelessness in our community.” Ms. Jacobs said merging the two shelters will allow Leading Families Home to serve more than 1,000 people a year. The acquisition was supported by $290,000 in funding from the city and a $20,000 Strategic Alliance Partnership Grant from the Greater Toledo Community Foundation. “We save lives by allowing families to live here and regroup so that they can go out and be productive citizens and live the dream [in] the city of Toledo,” said City Councilman Cerssandra McPherson. Leading Families Home began as Beach Family Shelter in 1921 and has served hundreds of families throughout its tenure. Family House started as the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance in 1985. Rosalyn Clemens, director of the department of neighborhoods for the city of Toledo, said she was visited by leaders of Family House in November, who told her, “We think that we can be more impactful if we combine forces.” She said it’s her job to help manage federal resources at a time in a country where those resources are dwindling. “Nonprofits tend to be territorial,” Ms. Clemens said. “They work in their silos and as we deal with this issue of dwindling resources, we have to address how we can become more efficient with the resources that we have. “When they came to me that day and asked for $290,000 for this transition, it was just a no-brainer for me to [go] before council … and ask for this money because it was such a visionary move on their behalf,” she continued. “It was such an impactful thing to combine forces to be able to serve more people.” The mayor shared the same sentiment. “It’s a difficult time in America right now for nonprofits, social service providers, frankly, like Family House,” Mr. Kapszukiewicz said. “It’s good if you’re Elon Musk and you need a tax break. It’s bad for everyone else. We have to have organizations step up to fill in the gap and that is what is happening here.” First Published March 12, 2026, 6:07 p.m.

WTOL: Leading Families Home and Family House Unit celebrate collaboration with ribbon-cutting

By Jessica Hover • March 13, 2026
https://www.wtol.com/video/news/local/leading-families-home-and-family-house-unit-celebrate-collaboration-with-ribbon-cutting/512-a04e21a5-6873-4eb3-9938-02305c319442

13abc: More local families in need of shelter

January 15, 2026
TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - Leading Families Home has been helping people achieve independence and economic stability for more than a century. Now, leaders say they are seeing a sharp increase in requests for emergency help. Leading Families Home has three different campuses around Toledo that can provide shelter for more than 200 people on any given night. But doing that is becoming more and more challenging. “We are an agency that helps families in crisis. We have three different properties that have shelters for emergency family shelters for homelessness and we have two housing programs, we offer behavioral health and substance abuse, so that we can help people full cycle,” Jennifer Jacobs, the executive director, said. But providing that support is becoming more difficult. “We’ve had probably 20 to 30% cuts amongst grants this entire year and so as the need grows, our financial support is decreasing at the same time and so that is leaving a large gap to make up,” Jacobs said. Jacobs loves what she does. In fact, her work goes home with her most nights. “It’s a lot of sleepless nights, it’s constantly on my mind, it’s constantly in my heart, I’m constantly thinking where do we go from here, what are the answers, where are some answers we haven’t thought of before, what else could we be doing?” Jacobs said. 13 Action News visited the Beach House Ashland, one of the organization’s emergency shelters. While the group helps hundreds of families at the three shelters every year, it is not enough. “Our numbers are higher than they have been; we have 146 families on a waitlist just waiting to get into shelter in Toledo,” Jacobs said. What keeps the staff going is the success stories and there are plenty of them. Lurnetta Brackette said her world was recently turned upside down. “I’m trying not to cry, because I’ve been through a lot,” Brackette said. She said her husband was the primary provider. He got sick and had to retire from his job, the two lost their home and are now at the shelter. “There is a better day coming, you just have to do the work, that’s what we did. I am thankful, truly thankful,” Brackette said. “We know that we are making a difference, with the help of the community, we’re definitely making a difference. It’s just sometimes, I just wish I could snap my fingers and help everybody all at the same time and end the problem,” Jacobs said. Brackette and her husband are looking at a new place to call home this week. Leading Families Home also runs Beach House on Erie Street, as well as Family House. There are a lot of ways you can help, you can donate things like canned goods, bedding, money and time. If you need the shelter, call 211. To learn more about Leading Families Home, click here. Source: https://www.13abc.com/2026/01/15/more-local-families-need-shelter/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPWE1dleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFqWGhGbktMZ3RocHN1T2FXc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHsgMdiahWZCNRyRah7J5ijuTRajGokQO0Ep0dN-sUZsoSXSzG-37ixjudV7Y_aem_yrWN5Ev2ipukk-ya_20J2w
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