FERTALY: Just Home Needs Assessment
Project Description:
Between 2007 and 2023, Montana experienced the nation's highest percentage increase in the number of individuals experiencing chronic patterns of homelessness. People involved in the justice system face limited housing options, often due to impacts from detention itself. Incarceration and criminal proceedings may result in the loss of one's job, unpaid rent, and ruined credit. Without alternatives, many Montanans find themselves on the street or back in the system. Research estimates indicate that people with disabilities are significantly overrepresented in the criminal justice system. Approximately 40% of jail inmates report having at least one disability. This is indicative of systemic issues that individuals with disabilities face, including access to adequate support services, lack of appropriate accommodations, and increased likelihood of encountering law enforcement due to behavioral manifestations of their disabilities. Additionally, racial minority groups disproportionately represent people who are frequently involved in the justice system and are unhoused in the Missoula area. The Just Home Project, funded by the MacArthur Foundation, and implemented by Homeword, Inc. will lead to the development of a housing intervention to reduce the number of people who are frequently justice involved and experiencing houselessness at booking or when released from custody. The project will begin with an initial 9-month planning phase and include a needs assessment conducted by the RIIC Evaluation Team. The needs assessment will use participatory methods to identify specific populations of justice-involved, unhoused individuals in the Missoula area and understand barriers to housing stability experienced by these groups. The project will establish a Community Advisory Board (or identify an existing board) to interpret findings and develop a housing intervention. The RIIC Evaluation Team will also prepare an evaluation plan to monitor the success of the housing intervention once it has been implemented. The Just Home project may help to prevent unnecessary institutionalization as well as creating an environment where individuals with disabilties can live, work, and participate in their communities.
Keyword(s):
Housing, Justice-involved, Missoula
Core Function(s):
Performing Research or Evaluation, Developing & Disseminating Information
Area of Emphasis
Housing-Related Activities
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals, Legislators/Policy Makers, General Public
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
Single-County
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
