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| RE-ENTRY HOUSING PILOT PROGRAM (RHPP)
Program Description
The Re-entry Housing Pilot Program (RHPP) provides grants to eligible organizations that offer supportive housing and services for jail and prison offenders who are under supervision and referred by the DOC. Funds are intended to promote housing stability and access to services.
Program Participant Eligibility Requirements
Participating offenders must be under supervision and referred by the DOC. The offender must be considered high-risk, high-need, or to not have a viable release plan.
Pilot Program Eligibility Requirements
Eligible programs must be located in one of the 6 counties currently housing Community Justice Centers (CJCs): Snohomish, King, Pierce, Yakima, Clark, and Spokane. They may be units of local governments, housing authorities, community action agencies, or other non-profit service agencies, or collaborations of agencies that have expertise in working with offender service and housing related matters. They must be operated in collaboration with the Community Justice Center (CJC) existing in the location of the pilot site.
Background
In 2007, the Washington State legislature passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill (ESSB) 6157 targeted at re-entry initiatives for offenders being released from correctional facilities. The bill’s intent is to support evidence-based programming for offenders and focus on facilitating their successful re-entry into the community.
State and federal law are clear that offenders, once they have completed their sentence, will return to the community. It is not a question of whether, but rather of when and how. Successful re-entry into the community is a collaborative effort between many parties, including but not limited to: regional and local government systems, local law enforcement, the court system, support services and treatment providers, and the offenders themselves. Housing is of key importance to safe re-entry and is a practical hub around which necessary protections and supports can be structured. Stable housing supports effective monitoring, compliance with treatment, and supervision requirements.
Under ESSB 6157, the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) has been authorized to develop supportive re-entry housing pilot programs serving offenders that are considered high-risk, high-need, or without a viable release plan. Key components of the legislation direct that pilot programs must work closely with the Department of Corrections (DOC) staff and that funding needs to be optimized by utilizing cost-effective community-based shared housing arrangements or other non-institutional living arrangements.
The Re-entry Housing Pilot Project applications
CTED received 11 applications from providers in five of the six counties with Community Justice Centers; Pierce, Snohomish, King, Clark, and Spokane. Funding requests totaled $7,250,950. Collectively, the applications projected serving 459 program participants.
We have $3,084,138 available for pass through funds to grantees.
State Funds Pilot Housing Programs Serving Offenders Leaving Incarceration
The first pilot projects to receive funding are:
Sound Mental Health (King County): $871,108.00 for 50-75 high-risk, high-need male and female offenders. With cross-system collaboration with DOC, housing management and the police, Sound Mental Health will develop an individualized multi-system care plan to address housing, employment, education, funding, basic living skills, self-sufficiency, and treatment services and supervision requirements.
Northeast Washington Housing Solutions (Spokane Housing Authority – Spokane County): $895,367 for 50 high-risk, high-need male and female offenders. Partnering with Goodwill Industries and Spokane Neighborhood Action Program (SNAP) to provide comprehensive services and referrals aimed at building self-sufficient through life-skills training, education, vocational training, treatment, and job placement.
YW Housing (Clark County): $200,000 for up to 40 high-risk, high-need male and female offenders. Building upon well-established collaborative relationships with DOC, local law enforcement and community partners, YW Housing will facilitate the road to self-sufficiency through a variety of rehabilitative and practical tools.
Meetings and Workshops
COMMUNITY COLLABORATION FOR RE-ENTRY HOUSING AND STABILIZATION
March 19, 2008
Audio Files:
Legislative Focus: WSSB 6157 and Beyond; Sen. Mike Carrell and Rep. Mary Helen Roberts
RHPP and HGAP overview; Molly Onkka (RHPP) and Jennifer Turin (HGAP)
Introduction of regional breakout groups
Dean Draper (Spokane Police Department)
Charles Wend (DOC)
Kevin St. Jacques (Sound Mental Health)
Alice Blado (Washington State Office of Attorney General)
Steve Parsons (Northwest Justice Project)
Anne Patton (private rental property owner)
Debbie Thiele (King County Housing Authority)
Benton-Franklin Community Action Program, Benton and Franklin Counties
YW Housing, Clark County
Tim Foley (Washington Department of Corrections)
Martha Martin (Pioneer Human Services)
Wendy Jones (Whatcom County Sheriff’s Department)
Dave Richardson (Clark County Corrections and Employment Services)
Alfie Alvarado-Ramos (Washington Department of Veteran’s Affairs)
Mark Putnam (Building Changes)
Final thoughts/next steps
Helpful links
Program Contacts:
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