The National Housing Law Project (NHLP) released a “Fair Chance Ordinances: An Advocates’ Toolkit,” providing step-by-step guidance to creating such a local ordinance to provide a “fair chance” to people previously engaged with the criminal justice system. The toolkit includes key elements of a fair chance ordinance, including how to implement and enforce one; legal and practical considerations; and helpful resources such as a chart summarizing existing local fair chance ordinances. NHLP will host a webinar about the toolkit on Tuesday, April 7 at 2:00 pm ET.
More than 600,000 people leave prison each year. Stable, affordable housing is an urgent need and is an essential factor in reducing recidivism. But estimates of the number of people excluded from housing due to an arrest or criminal record are staggering. Organizers and advocates around the country are increasingly pressing local governments to provide access to housing for people with criminal records. The toolkit offers a step-by-step guide to developing local policies that reduce the use of criminal records in the rental housing application process.
The “Fair Chance Ordinances: An Advocates’ Toolkit” is available at: https://tinyurl.com/r5fnzca
More information about housing opportunities for people reentering the community after involvement with the criminal justice system is at: https://tinyurl.com/https-www-nhlp-org-initiativ