Illinois Dems seek to expand post-release convict support, housing

(The Center Square) – Lawmakers in Springfield are pushing to pass legislation to provide people recently released from prison with housing, which they say will save Illinois taxpayers by reducing the likelihood for someone to reoffend.

Heard in the Senate Appropriations committee, House Bill 624 – the ‘Home for Good’ Act – would expand housing services for people released from prison by using $35 million in taxpayer funds already approved in this year’s budget.

Ahmadou Dramé, director of the Illinois Justice Project, told the committee the proposed act would put existing services into law, allowing for more state oversight and the ability for housing support services to expand.

“Nearly 40% of people return to Illinois prisons within three years of release annually,” Dramé said. “Recidivism costs Illinois taxpayers and society more than $1.1 billion on top of the more than $2 billion a year that the state pays to fund the Illinois Department of Corrections, Home for Good is desig...