Policy Alternatives to Residency Restrictions

Advocate for Housing First, individualized risk assessment, and repeal or narrowing of blanket exclusion zones. Pair with targeted supervision and services.

• Review your state’s residency restriction laws
• Map legal vs. restricted housing zones; quantify unit loss
• Engage local officials with NIJ/DOJ evidence
• Partner with reentry coalitions and housing providers
• Advance repeal/reform and fund supportive housing

• National Institute of Justice — https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/222759.pdf
• Prison Policy Initiative — https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/housing.html
• U.S. Department of Justice, SMART Office — https://smart.ojp.gov/

• How Residency Restrictions Undermine Housing Stability (Blog)
• Housing First (Resource Guide)
• Breaking Down Reentry Barriers (Blog)