Did you know there are over 80,000 people in Chicago that are considered homeless?

According to the prison policy initiative, 30% of those homeless people have experienced
incarceration. The effects of those criminal backgrounds create problems and trouble for those
finding jobs, and those seeking to address health problems. Those who have been incarcerated
more than once have a higher chance of becoming homeless, those people are more affected
and struggle receiving housing including public housing. If the amount of homelessness people
in Chicago is related to crime rates and the inability to purchase a home post incarceration, then
we can find programs and public assistance initiatives that help felons find housing. The
homelessness in Chicago is skyrocketing everyday with growing numbers unless we as
community members help them.
The amount of homelessness we see with a criminal background in Chicago is increasingly
rapid with our generations incarceration rate skyrocketing; overseeing the future increase of the
homeless population. The incarceration rate for Chicago’s youth due to the newly popularized
use of marijuana and “pill popping” is increasing chances of repeat offenders, and those seeking
housing in the future. Youth who accumulate small misdemeanors for petty crimes that go
unnoticed can create future problems and possibly repeat offenders that’ll soon lead to felons.
Today’s youth could be the futures homeless due to petty crime charges and having criminal
backgrounds that will affect housing opportunities. It is important for Chicago to save their youth
from future setbacks.
Even worse, older citizens with criminal records and lack of employment, have an increased
risk of becoming homeless without the option of entering a senior citizen home. Those senior
citizens who have accumulated criminal backgrounds in their past have poorly affected their
future. Committing crimes at a young age can put you at risk of becoming homeless at an older
age. Those barriers have not only affected the homelessness population; but the chances of
receiving employment and looking after health care. According to the prison policy initiative
about 5% of those who are 45 and older with criminal records repeat crimes just to receive
housing. This becomes known as the “revolving door” with the correlation of homelessness and
incarceration.
Receiving housing for anyone anywhere is tough with a criminal background. The chances of
people being able to rent or buy a home with a criminal record is at all time low; mainly due to
discrimination and other factors that aren’t controllable after you receive charges. Even
searching for private housing you can still be denied due to your status as a felon.Programs can
often increase your chances of being able to rent, but most landlords can refuse depending on the
severity of the crime committed; and no upholding law saying landowners have to rent to
felons.Public housing may be denied or even being waitlisted can cause prior felons to become
homeless. Many neighborhoods aren’t welcoming with open arms to those with criminal
backgrounds. This makes prior felons chances of being able to obtain and secure housing very
difficult.
While it might be true that prior felons can qualify for public housing and there are initiatives to
help receive housing; still in all there is still a high homeless population rate and there are still
some states that disqualifies felons to receive public housing. Also, more than 25% of those
experiencing homelessness have reported being arrested for activities that are a direct result of
their homelessness. Newly released repeat felons are more like to become homeless and
experience homelessness for long periods of times. People can be oppressed and discriminated
against due to criminal backgrounds when seeking living assistance. Unfortunately, being
homeless makes formerly incarcerated people more likely to become incarcerated again, the law
has criminalized homeless people from sleeping in public spaces, and public urination that also
tunnels back to the “revolving door”.
To conclude, there are many favors that ties into the homelessness incarceration correlation.
From the fact that today’s youth with new “trends” that are being popularized cause felons. Also
being a repeat old timer trying to receive housing from past incarceration. Landlords may
discriminate or deny those who are felons. Being homeless opens doors to more incarceration
due to petty laws law enforcement agencies have placed on the homeless that are considered
“offenses”. There are many things that can be done to help the homeless population, but little has
been done; there needs to be light shed up this continuous problem that seems to have no end if
we don’t work together.