SPRINGFIELD — At a press conference on Wednesday, State Senator Adriane Johnson joined advocates and community leaders to unveil the Home for Good proposal — a comprehensive plan to expand housing and support services for people returning home from incarceration.

“Public safety starts with stability,” Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) said. “When people return home from incarceration, access to safe, stable housing gives them the foundation to work, support their families and successfully reintegrate into their communities. This proposal is about aligning our public safety goals with smart, long-term investments.”

The proposal aims to reduce homelessness, improve public safety and generate long-term savings for taxpayers by establishing a coordinated, statewide reentry strategy.

Data from the Loyola Chicago Center for Criminal Justice shows that as many as 70% of individuals experience housing instability prior to incarceration — a challenge that often continues upon release. Each year, approximately 15,000 individuals leave Illinois prisons. Many face significant barriers to securing stable housing due to inequities in the housing market and gaps in support systems. Without stable housing, individuals are more likely to struggle with employment and compliance with release conditions — contributing to a recidivism rate of nearly 40% within three years.

The Home for Good proposal would include rental assistance administered through the Illinois Housing Development Authority, coordinated wraparound services through the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority and the development of additional reentry housing. Johnson’s proposal would also create the Home for Good Institute to provide training and technical assistance to community-based organizations.

“This has an outsized impact on Black and Brown communities, who already face higher rates of over-policing and incarceration,” said Ahmadou Dramé, director of the Illinois Justice Project. “After leaving prison, they become vulnerable to discrimination through an exclusionary human service system, rental and employment policies and laws, which fuel housing instability upon release. Illinois can – and must – take action to create an equitable reentry strategy, which will reap long-term social and economic benefits throughout Illinois.” 

The Home for Good Coalition includes more than 60 organizations statewide advocating for expanded housing and support services for people returning from incarceration.

Senate Bill 4162 awaits committee assignment.