Damarius Cantie
Research Mentor: Nikita Easley
Mentor Department: Civil Rights, Inclusion & Opportunity Department, City of Detroit, NonUM
Author(s): Damarius Cantie
Session: Session 2 (10:00 AM – 10:50 AM)
Presentation Type: Poster 14
Abstract
There is a growing need for research that examines the structural relationship between incarceration and housing insecurity in the United States. Formerly incarcerated individuals face disproportionately high rates of homelessness, a pattern often described as the “cycle of homelessness and incarceration†or the “revolving door between the streets, shelters, and jails.†This cycle reflects not only the increased likelihood that returning citizens will experience homelessness, but also the ways in which homelessness itself contributes to recidivism. Whether through criminalized survival strategies or systemic barriers to stability, housing insecurity functions as a key mechanism that channels individuals back into the criminal legal system. In response to these challenges, fair chance housing (FCH) initiatives have emerged as policy interventions aimed at reducing discrimination against returning citizens in the rental housing market. Modeled after “ban the box†employment policies, FCH laws seek to remove or delay the use of criminal background checks in housing decisions, thereby expanding access to stable housing. These policies vary widely across jurisdictions, as they are primarily implemented at the local and state levels, creating a diverse landscape of legal approaches and enforcement mechanisms. This analysis examines 16 metropolitan areas across the United States using a stratified sampling approach to compare policy and the enforcement of said policies. Cities were selected based on their strength of FCH ordinances, their similarity to Detroit in demographic and carceral characteristics, and the presence of statewide FCH frameworks. Data were drawn from legal and administrative sources, including city ordinances and civil rights publications. The aim of this research is to create policy recommendations for the City of Detroit that expands formerly incarcerated individuals’ access to what is widely considered a human right–housing.
