Overview

The 2nd Chance Permanent Housing Inventory Project addresses the critical and systemic challenges faced by returning citizens as they reenter society. Released individuals often struggle to secure basic necessities, with stable housing being one of the most significant barriers. Without access to permanent residency, returning citizens are at a heightened risk of homelessness and recidivism. Statistics show that within five years of release, 76.6% of individuals are re-arrested, highlighting the urgent need for solutions that promote stability and reduce repeat offenses (James, 2022). This project seeks to fill that gap by creating a comprehensive, accessible inventory of long-term housing options in Northern Georgia.

The project’s purpose is grounded in the recognition that housing stability is a cornerstone of successful reintegration. Ex-offenders face widespread discrimination in the housing market, where nearly 44% of landlords refuse to rent to individuals with criminal records (Felony Record Hub, 2023). Misconceptions about public housing policies and fear of liability contribute to this exclusion, leaving many returning citizens without viable options. Addressing these systemic barriers, the 2nd Chance Permanent Housing Inventory Project provides a well-researched resource that not only identifies available housing but also offers actionable insights into the policies and practices that perpetuate inequity.

Through meticulous research and collaboration, the project team conducted a comprehensive inventory of properties across four divisions in Northern Georgia. The database categorizes residences based on their willingness to accept returning citizens, eligibility requirements, and housing conditions. Beyond housing identification, the project sheds light on broader systemic challenges—such as stigmatization, restrictive landlord policies, and the absence of legal protections—while advocating for reforms that can create more inclusive opportunities.

This initiative is more than a response to an immediate need; it is a step toward reimagining societal support systems for returning citizens. By equipping stakeholders with critical data and fostering dialogue around housing equity, the project aims to reduce recidivism, empower individuals, and build stronger communities.

What is a Returning Citizen?

In the context of the 2nd Chance Permanent Housing Inventory Project, a returning citizen refers specifically to individuals reentering society after serving time for violent crimes, including serious offenses such as rape, murder, or aggravated assault. This definition acknowledges the unique challenges these individuals face in securing stable housing due to the stigma and heightened restrictions associated with their convictions. The project emphasizes identifying housing options that explicitly accommodate individuals with violent offense histories, addressing systemic barriers that perpetuate homelessness and recidivism among this population. By focusing on this often-overlooked group, the initiative seeks to create pathways for reintegration, ensuring that even those with severe criminal backgrounds have access to the basic stability needed to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to their communities.

Purpose of the Project

The 2nd Chance Permanent Housing Inventory Project was initiated by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia (USAGAN) to address the pressing need for stable, long-term housing solutions for returning citizens in Northern Georgia. Recognizing that existing programs, such as Transitional Housing for Offender Reentry (THOR), provide only short-term residency options, USAGAN identified a significant gap in resources for permanent housing accommodations. This limitation often leaves returning citizens, particularly those with convictions for violent offenses, without the stability necessary for successful reintegration, perpetuating cycles of homelessness and recidivism.

The primary goal of this project is to create a detailed, accessible database of long-term housing options specifically designed to accommodate returning citizens. The database serves as a practical resource to direct individuals and supporting organizations toward housing that meets specific criteria, such as felony acceptance type, residency duration, cost, and proximity to transportation. By filling this critical gap, the initiative not only provides actionable solutions for housing but also contributes to broader efforts to promote public safety and equity.

The scope of the project covers the entire Northern District of Georgia, divided into four regions: Metro Atlanta, Gainesville, Newnan, and Rome. Each division encompasses multiple counties, including high-density areas like Fulton, Cobb, and Gwinnett in Metro Atlanta, as well as more rural regions like Chattooga and Lumpkin in the Rome and Gainesville divisions. The team systematically identified and cataloged housing options across these counties, verifying critical details through research and direct outreach.

The project’s outcome is a comprehensive Excel-based inventory that organizes housing information by location and includes critical details such as housing type, application processes, restrictions, and assistance options. This resource will equip USAGAN and its partners with the tools to make informed decisions, addressing a crucial barrier to reintegration while fostering safer, more inclusive communities.

Methods and Data

To achieve the objectives of the 2nd Chance Permanent Housing Inventory Project, a systematic approach to data collection and organization was implemented between January and April 2023. The process focused on identifying, verifying, and categorizing housing options across the Northern District of Georgia, ensuring that the resulting database was accurate, comprehensive, and practical for USAGAN's use.

The project began with a preliminary data search, utilizing public resources such as the Yellow Pages to identify potential housing facilities. The search yielded an initial pool of approximately 1,800 residential properties, including apartment complexes, townhomes, senior living facilities, and independent housing options. These properties spanned the four divisions of the Northern District: Metro Atlanta, Gainesville, Newnan, and Rome. To manage the extensive dataset, the information was organized into an Excel workbook, with each division and its respective counties listed on separate sheets. This structure provided clarity and ease of navigation, laying the groundwork for subsequent data refinement and verification.

Following the initial data collection, the team engaged in a rigorous data verification process. Each property was cross-referenced with online sources to confirm the accuracy of details such as property name, address, and contact information. This process reduced the initial list to 1,267 verified entries. Verification also included categorizing properties by city and county, ensuring geographical accuracy and allowing the team to focus on a representative sample of five to ten properties per city within each county due to time constraints.

The next step involved data collection, during which team members directly contacted property managers and owners to gather detailed information about their housing policies. This was achieved through phone calls and emails, guided by carefully crafted scripts. The team used a structured residential survey designed in collaboration with USAGAN to ensure that all relevant topics were addressed. The survey included questions about felony acceptance criteria, housing types, residency duration, costs, and additional restrictions or regulations. If property managers preferred, pre-written emails containing the survey link were sent to gather responses efficiently.

For consistency and professionalism, scripts were employed for all communications. These scripts outlined clear introductions, explanations of the project’s purpose, and a respectful request for participation. If a property manager agreed to participate, the team member conducted the survey over the phone or directed the respondent to the email version of the questionnaire. The scripts also provided guidelines for handling refusals or challenging interactions, ensuring that all communications reflected the project’s commitment to respect and integrity.

The verified and collected data was then categorized using a color-coded system within the Excel workbook. This system streamlined the analysis and interpretation of the inventory, with colors representing key attributes of each property. For instance:

• Green indicated properties that accepted returning citizens.

• Gray marked properties that refused.

• Light Blue denoted properties that used background checks to determine eligibility.
  Additional colors were used to flag follow-ups, unverified properties, or instances where further clarification was needed.

This meticulous methodology ensured that the final database provided a reliable resource for USAGAN and its partners, offering a clear and actionable overview of housing options across the Northern District of Georgia. The project’s structured approach not only facilitated data collection and organization but also highlighted systemic challenges and opportunities for reform within the housing sector.

Data Collection Overview

The research identified an initial pool of 1,750 residential properties across the four divisions of the Northern District: Metro Atlanta, Gainesville, Newnan, and Rome. These properties were sourced using the Yellow Pages and other publicly available resources. A rigorous verification process was conducted to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the inventory. This involved cross-referencing the initial dataset with online searches to confirm each property's operational status and contact details.

Post-verification, the total number of residences decreased to 1,267, reflecting the elimination of duplicates and properties with outdated or unverifiable information. The breakdown by division revealed the following:

• Metro Atlanta: Initially identified 1,000 properties, reduced to 925 verified properties.

• Gainesville: Initially identified 250 properties, reduced to 120 verified properties.

• Newnan: Initially identified 250 properties, reduced to 101 verified properties.

• Rome: Initially identified 250 properties, reduced to 121 verified properties.

Survey Participation

From the verified pool of 1,267 properties, detailed data was collected through residential surveys conducted via phone calls or email. A total of 160 properties participated, providing crucial insights into their housing policies. Of these:

• 133 were apartments.

• 5 were multiplexes.

• 13 were senior living facilities.

• 2 were independent living facilities for seniors or disabled individuals.

The distribution of these properties across divisions was as follows:

• Metro Atlanta: 51 apartments, 1 townhome, 1 multiplex, and 6 senior living facilities.

• Gainesville: 32 apartments, 1 townhome, and 4 senior living facilities.

• Newnan: 27 apartments, 2 townhomes, 1 multiplex, and 2 independent living facilities.

• Rome: 23 apartments, 2 townhomes, 4 multiplexes, and 1 senior living facility.

Categorization Using the Color-Coded System

To streamline the organization and interpretation of the data, the inventory employed a color-coded categorization system. This system differentiated properties based on their responses and interactions during the survey process:

• Green: Properties that confirmed they accept returning citizens.

• Gray: Properties that explicitly refused to accommodate returning citizens.

• Light Blue: Properties that rely on background checks to determine eligibility.

• Additional colors flagged follow-up needs, unverifiable properties, and duplicate entries.

This system allowed for clear visualization of the housing landscape, enabling stakeholders to identify opportunities and barriers efficiently.

Patterns and Trends

The analysis revealed several important patterns:

• Only a small percentage of surveyed properties actively accepted returning citizens, reflecting widespread discrimination or restrictive policies.

• Properties managed by large organizations were more likely to implement blanket bans, whereas privately owned or smaller facilities demonstrated greater flexibility.

• Regional disparities were evident, with Metro Atlanta offering the highest number of options and rural areas like Newnan and Rome displaying more reluctance to accommodate returning citizens.

• The acceptance of returning citizens often depended on factors such as the type of offense, the time elapsed since conviction, and compliance with specific residency restrictions.

Implications of Findings

These findings highlight the significant challenges faced by returning citizens in securing stable housing, particularly those with violent offense histories. The data underscores the need for targeted policy reforms, increased community awareness, and expanded support for second-chance housing programs. By identifying the systemic barriers and regional disparities, this project provides a foundation for addressing these issues and fostering greater equity in housing access.

The accompanying graphs and figures further illustrate these findings, pinpointing the counties within each division that are most accommodating to returning citizens. These visual insights offer a practical tool for stakeholders to prioritize interventions and allocate resources effectively.

Inventory Analysis

The 2nd Chance Permanent Housing Inventory was meticulously organized using a color-coded system that streamlined data categorization and analysis. Each property listed in the inventory was assigned a color to reflect specific attributes or interactions during the research process, ensuring clarity and consistency in the dataset.

The color-coded legend, documented in the Excel workbook, separated data by county within the four divisions of the Northern District of Georgia. During the verification phase:

• Red indicated missing information about a residence.

• Yellow identified duplicate entries.

• Black distinguished cities within counties, helping to segment data geographically.

For the interaction phase, additional colors highlighted the nature of engagements with properties:

• Fuchsia: Properties that preferred to participate via email surveys rather than phone calls.

• Green: Properties that confirmed their willingness to accommodate returning citizens.

• Gray: Properties that explicitly refused to accommodate returning citizens.

• Coral: Properties that were unwilling to participate in the inventory.

• Orange: Unverifiable properties that could not be reached.

• Brown: Properties where voicemails were left, requiring follow-up.

• Lavender: Properties requesting a callback at a later time.

• Light Blue: Properties that utilized third-party background checks to determine eligibility.

This system allowed the team to differentiate properties by response type and status, enabling an efficient categorization process and enhancing the utility of the inventory for stakeholders. The color-coded system also served as the foundation for generating graphs and visual representations of the findings.

Graph and Figure Development

To illustrate the project’s findings, several visualizations were created, highlighting key data points and trends across the four divisions. These graphs and maps offered a clear overview of housing availability and barriers for returning citizens.

Unverifiable Properties

The inventory revealed that 118 properties, or 9.31% of the total verified pool, were unverifiable due to missing or outdated information. The division-wise breakdown is as follows:

• Metro Atlanta: 5.95% (55 of 925 properties)

• Gainesville: 15.83% (19 of 120 properties)

• Newnan: 14.85% (15 of 101 properties)

• Rome: 23.97% (29 of 121 properties)

Recommendations and Discussion

The findings of the 2nd Chance Permanent Housing Inventory Project reveal a stark reality: housing options for returning citizens, particularly those with violent felony convictions, are scarce and often restricted by systemic barriers. The reluctance of many housing facilities to accommodate these individuals stems from various factors, including stringent residential guidelines set by large property organizations like Greystar and Highmark Residential. These entities often defer decisions to third-party background checks, which frequently exclude applicants with criminal records, especially those involving violent offenses. Even among facilities open to returning citizens, many impose additional restrictions, such as excluding applicants with violent felonies or requiring significant time to have passed since the offense.

This reluctance is compounded by societal stigma, which frames individuals with felony backgrounds as liabilities. Housing providers fear potential legal repercussions or reputational harm should an incident occur. Interestingly, areas with higher crime rates were more likely to accommodate returning citizens, suggesting that communities accustomed to criminal justice involvement may be more accepting. Conversely, regions with lower crime levels displayed greater hesitancy in providing housing.

Low-income and second-chance housing facilities emerged as the most accommodating options for returning citizens. These facilities are often incentivized through government tax credits tied to non-discrimination policies. By adhering to fair housing and equal opportunity guidelines, they provide a critical lifeline for individuals seeking reintegration.

Key Recommendations

1. Policy Reform

   Addressing the systemic barriers faced by returning citizens requires substantive policy changes. Federal housing policies currently do not recognize individuals with criminal backgrounds as a protected class under the Fair Housing Act, leaving them vulnerable to widespread discrimination. To combat this, two key procedural protections should be considered:

   “Forget” Protections: Enable expungement or sealing of criminal records for eligible individuals, allowing them to navigate housing and employment opportunities without the burden of past convictions.

   “Forgive” Protections: Introduce Certificates of Rehabilitation, which signal to housing providers that an individual has met specific criteria for reintegration, mitigating concerns about liability.

   Expanding these protections to include felony convictions, particularly violent offenses, could significantly improve housing accessibility. At the state level, incorporating returning citizens as a protected class in fair housing laws would provide additional safeguards.

2. Tax Incentives for Housing Providers

   Encouraging landlords to accommodate returning citizens can be achieved through targeted tax incentives. By offering financial benefits to private property owners and developers of low-income or second-chance housing, the government can create a framework for inclusivity. Such incentives would offset perceived risks and promote broader participation among property managers and landlords.

3. Community Outreach and Education

   Changing public perception is essential to addressing the stigma surrounding returning citizens. Misrepresentation of individuals with criminal records in media and entertainment reinforces harmful stereotypes, which influence both housing policies and community attitudes. Public awareness campaigns, alongside initiatives to diversify media narratives, can foster greater understanding and acceptance.

   Efforts to build trust within communities should also focus on educating landlords about the benefits of second-chance housing and connecting returning citizens with supportive local networks. These measures can alleviate concerns and encourage private property owners to consider these applicants positively.

4. Expansion of Second-Chance Housing

   Investing in the development of second-chance housing programs provides a sustainable solution for addressing this issue. These facilities, often tied to income-based models, are inherently more accommodating due to their reliance on government funding and adherence to fair housing policies. Expanding such programs would create more opportunities for returning citizens to access stable housing.

5. Changes in Public Perception

   The negative societal narrative surrounding individuals with criminal backgrounds remains a significant barrier to their reintegration. Sensationalized media portrayals and stigmatizing depictions in films and television perpetuate the idea that returning citizens are inherently untrustworthy or dangerous. These portrayals not only shape public attitudes but also influence housing policies and landlord decisions.

   To combat this, Rashad Robinson, a contributor to Ending Mass Incarceration: Ideas from Today’s Leaders, advocates for a transformation in storytelling conventions. By emphasizing decarceration and rehabilitation over punitive narratives, media can play a pivotal role in normalizing the reintegration of returning citizens. States can support this shift by incentivizing media producers to diversify their content and portray criminal justice issues with greater nuance.

   Community-based initiatives are equally critical. In conservative areas less inclined to accommodate returning citizens, targeted outreach and education campaigns can dispel myths and reduce moral panic. These efforts should highlight the shared benefits of supporting reintegration, including reduced recidivism and safer communities.

Closing Statements

The 2nd Chance Permanent Housing Inventory Project provides a roadmap for addressing the housing crisis faced by returning citizens. By identifying systemic barriers and offering actionable recommendations, the initiative underscores the need for policy reforms, community engagement, and targeted incentives. Implementing these strategies will not only expand housing options but also promote equity, reduce recidivism, and enable returning citizens to contribute meaningfully to society. Through collaborative efforts, USAGAN and its partners can lead the way in creating a more inclusive future for all.