The Drug Abuse Act of 1988 mandated that public housing authorities include provisions in their lease agreements that would allow them to evict tenants who were involved in criminal activity or whose friends or family members were involved in criminal activity on HUD properties. This was done to ensure that only those who were deemed as deserving and needy were able to access housing, and to differentiate them from other former inmates. Research has shown that there is a wide margin of discretion and a varied political landscape that determines the access of former prisoners to housing subsidies or to subsidized housing that is rented to members of their social and family networks. Given the potential value of housing subsidies for former inmates, and the fact that housing can have a significant impact on reentry outcomes, it is important to understand how this population seeks to access this resource. In addition, subsidized housing may be particularly important for former inmates after the immediate reentry period, when they are no longer entitled to temporary housing after their incarceration. In order to address the barriers that people with criminal records face in accessing housing subsidies, the New Haven Housing Authority has allocated public housing units specifically for those who are re-entering prison immediately after leaving.
The Choice Neighborhoods initiative, launched by President Obama after Hurricane Katrina, promised thousands of new affordable units. Connecticut, and New Haven in particular, have some housing aids designed specifically for those who are re-entering. The memorandum issued by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was considered a big step in the right direction, but it did not go so far as to establish less restrictive ways of carrying out examinations, but instead urged housing authorities to avoid lawsuits. In conclusion, people with criminal records should be aware of the various options available to them when it comes to finding shared housing in New Orleans. It is important to understand the restrictions imposed by the Drug Abuse Act of 1988 and the memorandum issued by HUD, as well as the various housing aids available in Connecticut and New Haven. With careful research and planning, people with criminal records can find suitable shared housing in New Orleans.
