It is well documented that there is a strong relationship between homelessness or unstable housing and reincarceration. And the initial month after a person is released from custody is a period of particular vulnerability, with an increased risk of homelessness and return to prison.
The Justice Housing Program (JHP), developed by the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government, aims to provide transitional accommodation to people leaving the ACT’s only adult prison and who would otherwise have nowhere to go. Our paper presents the findings of the first process evaluation of the JHP. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 35 people involved in the JHP. We also administered a survey to clients to find out about their housing history and level of social connection.
Overall, the findings from our evaluation suggest that the JHP appears to be filling a significant gap and is supported by both JHP clients and professional stakeholders. The preliminary lessons point the way for programs that do not merely provide a roof over someone’s head, but also create a sense of coming home.
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Dr Helen Taylor
Senior Lecturer, Australian National University, Australia
Dr Helen Taylor is a Lecturer of Criminology in POLIS: The Centre for Social Policy Research at the Australian National University (ANU). She was previously the Research Manager of the Reducing Recidivism Research Collaboration, a partnership between the ANU and the ACT Government. Helen is an expert on the ACT criminal justice system and has expertise in evaluation methodologies having led both process and outcome evaluations of ACT government projects aimed to reduce recidivism. Her research interests include restorative justice, criminal justice reform, the digitisation of justice, Indigenous justice and countering violent extremism. Helen is the recent recipient of an Office of National Intelligence Discovery Grant to undertake research on the prevention of radicalisation and violent extremism. Helen is also passionate about integrating decolonising approaches into her research and teaching.
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Professor Lorana Bartels
Professor, Australian National University, Australia
Lorana Bartels is a Professor of Criminology at the Australian National University and Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Canberra and University of Tasmania. She is also a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law and board director of the Justice Reform Initiative and ConFit Pathways. She has published five books, 140 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, and numerous government consultancy reports. Her research focuses include the courts, corrections, and criminal justice responses to women, Indigenous people, young people, and people with disability.
