The Impact of Permanent Supportive Housing for Individuals Exiting Prison

More than half a million prisoners are released from state and federal prisons each year. Formerly incarcerated people are nearly ten times more likely to experience homelessness than the general population, and the risk is highest in the first two years after leaving prison. Permanent supportive housing (PSH), a popular housing first model, provides affordable housing and support services to individuals facing homelessness, without time limits.  There were over 375,000 year-round PSH beds nationally in 2021. We will conduct the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) of PSH for exiting at-risk prisoners. Through a partnership with the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), the national leader in supportive housing, we will implement the study through two Ohio-based programs, Returning Home Ohio (RHO) and Community Transition Program (CTP). Exiting prisoners with mental illness or HIV are eligible for the former, while the latter is for those with substance use disorders. We will measure the impact of PSH on criminal recidivism, housing, health, income, and employment. LEO and CSH plan to enroll approximately 880 people into the study, of whom about 25 percent will be assigned to the treatment group.