USICH Blog
10/02/2012 - Collaborating for Reentry Success: Returning Home Ohio
This week we will be releasing a package of information through our newsletter focused on the challenges of reentry for individuals transitioning out of jails and 
prisons, and the ways the government and service providers are working to create successful outcomes for this population of Americans. Today we’ll share with you the work of a well-documented initiative from our partners at CSH, Returning Home Ohio.
Returning Home Ohio (RHO) is a supportive housing pilot initiative led by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) and Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) aimed at preventing homelessness and reducing recidivism for individuals reentering Ohio’s communities from state prisons. The target population includes offenders released from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections who have histories of chronic homelessness or are at-risk of homelessness upon release. The target population includes offenders released from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections who have histories of chronic homelessness or are at-risk of homelessness upon release. Priority is given to offenders who are likely to require supportive services in order to maintain housing. This includes, but is not limited to, offenders who have severe mental illnesses, addictions, and/or development disabilities. The Urban Institute has been working with CSH to evaluate the effectiveness of this initiative since its first year in 2007 and released their final report in August 2012, which shows that RHO participants were significantly less likely to rearrested and reincarcerated and accessed more behavioral health and health services than the control group.
The ODRC has invested over $5 million since the beginning of the pilot project. Its funds have been used for rental subsidies, tenant assistance, supportive services, program evaluation, and program management.
In this pilot project collaboration, CSH is responsible for oversight and management. It subcontracts with the nonprofit supportive housing providers, performs grants administration, and conducts compliance monitoring visits. Also, CSH coordinates and conducts quarterly meetings between the nonprofit providers and ODRC staff.
Learn more about the Returning Home Ohio initiative and its next steps
Read the final report from The Urban Institute
Photo courtesy of CSH
