BALTIMORE—Baltimore's homeless population is caught in a revolving door, spinning from prison to the streets and back again, according to a new study funded by the Open Society Institute-Baltimore, which will be released on Tuesday, December 17, at 11 a.m. at the Institute's office, 201 N. Charles Street, Suite 1300.
The study, conducted by the Center for Poverty Solutions in Baltimore, analyzed more than 700 surveys of homeless people interviewed at 18 Baltimore-area soup kitchens and drop-in centers.
The analysis found that nearly half of the people interviewed had been incarcerated, many for public urination, loitering, sleeping outdoors and other nonviolent crimes that stemmed from being homeless. And even though 60 percent of those surveyed reported having a physical illness or disability, and 33 percent reported a mental condition, most had not received any rehabilitative or social services during or after their incarceration.
Also, while a majority of those surveyed had lived in homes they owned or rented before they were incarcerated, the study found that less than one-third found permanent housing after their release from prison.
That data suggests that "if you're poor and barely getting by, you're more likely to interact with the criminal justice system," says Dr. Thomas O'Toole, Program Officer for OSI-Baltimore. "And once you do, it's unlikely that you will receive the services you need to move from the street into stable housing. What's more, people who have been incarcerated have an even harder time finding employment and some public housing."
"Even for misdemeanor crimes that are the direct consequence of being poor, the system punishes you long after you have served your time," says O'Toole. "If you weren't homeless and destitute before you got arrested, you probably will be after."
Among the homeless people surveyed who had been incarcerated, the study showed that:
- 93 percent were arrested for non-violent crimes, and 33 percent of the offenses were directly related to homelessness, such as panhandling and public drinking;
- 41 percent reported receiving no services while incarcerated, and 70 percent stated they had not received any assistance after their release; and
- 8.3 percent reported being homeless prior to their incarceration, while the number jumped to 18.6 percent after incarceration.
"The study showed that incarceration leads to greater instability in the lives of these very poor people," says Sarah Grace Zambon, a Center for Poverty Solutions researcher, who conducted the survey for the Center. "It's troubling that, of the people we surveyed, a greater number became homeless after they were released from prison than were homeless prior to incarceration. In our opinion, that's poor public policy, because it's an outcome that doesn't serve anyone—neither the individual nor the community. "
Aurie Hall, Program Officer for the Criminal Justice Program at the Open Society Institute, says, "This survey gives us insight into the relationship between incarceration and homelessness in Baltimore and the importance of providing transitional services to people returning from prison to our neighborhoods."
Among those participating in the press conference are:
- Diana Morris, Director, OSI-Baltimore
- Salima Siler-Marriott, Maryland Delegate (D-Baltimore)
- Alma Roberts, President and CEO, Center for Poverty Solutions
- Sarah Grace Zambon, Researcher, Center for Poverty Solutions
- Dr. Thomas O'Toole, OSI Program Officer and Assistant Professor of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions