To increase the chances of individuals finding housing as they return to the community from prison or jail, transition planners should begin assessing the housing needs of each person well in advance of his or her release. Ideally, every person should be released directly to appropriate housing, maximizing his or her opportunity for a successful transition to the community. Even when community resources are limited, however, release should not be postponed for or denied to any individual just because no housing options are available.

In developing the housing components of inmate transitional plans, corrections staff should build upon information collected through a housing assessment of the individual, including his or her previous housing histories, histories of homelessness and institutionalization, and eligibility for subsidized or special-needs housing. This assessment should be conducted as early as possible for inmates in jail. Particularly when the timing of a person's release is unpredictable, jail administrators may wish to integrate this assessment into the intake procedure. (See Policy Statement 8, Development of Intake Procedure, for more on prioritizing assessments for jail inmates.) For prisoners, this screening may be done briefly during the intake procedure, but a more extensive assessment should be conducted six months to one year prior to their release, with updates as needed. Identification of the correct option must account for each of the assessed needs and characteristics of the person, such as:

Age of the re-entering individual

Health, substance abuse, mental health, and/or mental retardation

Length and stability of housing history

Whether or not the individual has been living independently or with family

Previous income and employment history

History of living independently in subsidized, assisted, or supportive housing

History of shelter use

History of residential treatment or institutionalization (mental health or substance abuse)

Additional questions to consider regarding the individual's post-incarceration housing needs include:

Can the person afford an apartment on his or her own, or will he or she need financial assistance or subsidies to help pay rent?

Does the individual wish to reunite with parents, siblings, or family members? Are there family members identified who are able (both physically and financially) to receive and house the inmate?

Does the person plan to reunite with or regain custody of children?

Will the person need ongoing health support or help paying rent, managing money, cooking, cleaning, shopping, etc.? If so, will he or she need social services for only a short period or for an extended, or even permanent, basis?

Does the individual seek or need the benefit of counseling, peer support, or a sense of community with others who may have similar experiences and backgrounds?

Does the individual seek or need a structured environment to assist with treatment needs, such as substance use and addiction?

In county and local facilities where the term of incarceration is too short to allow for significant assessment activities, transition planners should at least provide inmates with basic information about how to access community-based housing resources.