A new report produced by the John Howard Society, in collaboration with the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness and the Social Research and Demonstration Corporation, examines the cycle of homelessness and housing precarity in Ontario, wherein a growing number of people in the province alternate between being incarcerated or involved with the justice system and being unable to access safe and affordable housing.

The report draws attention to the potential housing, social, health, and other impacts for persons in conflict with the law. Specifically, the report examines loss of stability related to loss of housing, loss of wages, loss of social assistance benefits, loss of employment, and/ or loss of personal property, as well as mental health impacts, and physical health impacts for persons who are charged, incarcerated or involved with the justice system. Importantly, the report notes that justice involvement – defined as being stopped, carded or arrested, navigating the court and bail systems, and/or conviction – can contribute to a cycle of release, homelessness, re-arrest, and jail.

The following five themes emerged from the research that informs the report:

• Justice system involvement is a leading cause of housing loss
• Incarceration causes and perpetuates homelessness
• Pre-release planning from correctional facilities is often inadequate, making finding housing difficult post-release
• There are significant barriers to accessing essential community services post-release
• The resource and service gaps for people experiencing persistent homelessness and justice involvement are serious

Locked Up. Locked Out. The Revolving Door of Homelessness and Ontario’s Justice System is available in English here: https://johnhoward.on.ca/research-topic/reintegration-housing/.