The incarcerated population at risk of homelessness and discrimination

The Incarcerated Population
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Abstract
This paper is about risks the incarcerated population face after release from prison and is mainly concerned with homelessness and discrimination. Finding a place to live after prison and building a successful life is quite challenging. Before finding stable jobs, which are extremely rare, and addressing the health-related problem, shelter is often the priority. Previous research indicates that specific demographics facing discrimination and the risk of homelessness include women and individuals released from prison, which is the primary objective of this paper. Although few people released from prison find their way to marginalized housing, it close to homelessness. Sadly, the existence of policies that criminalize homelessness increases the likelihood of formerly incarcerated being rearrested.
The Incarcerated Population
In the United States, incarcerated people are ten times likely to be homeless than normal individuals, as indicated in the most recent 2008 statistics data from the bureau of justice survey. The data further shows that about 15 percent of inmates were homeless before incarceration, indicating that they have nowhere to go after doing their time. Individuals that experience multiple imprisonment face twice more possibilities of being homeless than those returning from the first imprisonment in a cycle known as the revolving door of incarceration (Moschion & Johnson 2019). The government's Dire interventions are necessary following statistical reports that people spending more than four years in the community are still twice vulnerable to homelessness as the general public. The development of an interagency support system is necessary to find good homes and long-term support for the incarcerated.
Identifying the homelessness level among the formerly incarcerated population is a critical step in finding a solution to housing insecurity. The housing insecurity metrics provide a realistic analysis of formerly incarcerated people denied access to permanent housing (Lustick et al. 2020). Reports indicate that housing insecurity challenges are three times more than homelessness, thus contributing to the community by vulnerable population minimal. The significant challenges of those reentering from prison include but are not limited to discrimination by state housing authorities and private property owners, adding to affordable housing shortages. The exclusion from the housing has adverse implications to both the released population and the general economy. The screening criteria employed by property owners rely mostly upon criminal record checks, thus the broad discretion to punish individuals after incarceration by denying them proper housing.
Stringent housing application requirements such as credit checks and massive security deposits lockout released people from accessing quality housing. Other necessities include professional references, which in most cases is not available for incarcerated people. Imposing systemic barriers on the population locked up for an extended period, thus being out of the labor market, poses other detrimental effects. Reduced health care services related to homelessness lead to increased drugs and substance abuse, further deteriorating mental health. Lack of stable housing is directly related to the rising unemployment rates among the formerly incarcerated (Couloute 2018). Also, limited access to educational programs resulting from unemployment and unstable housing is popular among the previously imprisoned. In most cases, people detained more than once face severe homelessness and extreme housing insecurity hence destabilizing the reentry process.
Restorative methods
The restorative process involves working with formerly incarcerated individuals, thus focusing on repairing the damages already done. Incorporating human rights analysis to the therapeutic approach emphasizes the homelessness and discrimination of incarcerated individuals. The process necessitates victims and relevant authorities' presence in resolving the challenges (Lustick et al., 2020). The healing process involves a favorable consideration of past criminal behavior, thus fostering a high sense of responsibility and progress beyond the former prisoner's vulnerability resulting in discrimination. Restoration methods functions include mending the society's breakdown and constructing sustainable relationships through proper dialogue, community support and involvement, and inclusion of all relevant parties. Also, the process emphasizes the need to respect former inmates and allowing successful reintegration into society. Focusing on former prisoners' strength instead of their weakness is at the center of vital concept philosophy.
The restorative theories' primary objectives should reflect that every person imprisoned should get good quality homes after serving their prison sentence. Therefore, the process should invite full participation and consensus to solve the critical issue. The theories also seek to establish direct accountability by the relevant stakeholders (Lustick et al. 2020). For example, property owners should refrain from using criminal record tracks to vet housing application, and the public housing authorities should facilitate affordable housing to incorporate the low-income population. Also, reuniting the divisions within the community helps to strengthen societal values, therefore preventing further damages. The process of strengthening the community involves educating the public on showing compassion for the homeless by offering support and a positive attitude.
Victim mediation is a vital process that involves repairing emotional and material harm resulting from criminal activities. This process facilitates healing and acknowledging past mistakes, thus easing incorporation into the community after prison release. This approach's underlying principle is that human beings can resolve fundamental problems under the right circumstance (Gonzales et al., 2018). Also, appropriate structures that minimize status offer a cond...