TORONTO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – Aug. 5, 2010) – The John Howard Society of Toronto will be releasing ‘Homeless and Jailed: Jailed and Homeless;’ a report on the increasing number of homeless individuals in Toronto area jails who are being released to areas that are unable to provide sufficient resources to aid in reintegration and deter recidivism. John Howard researchers undertook 363 interviews with incarcerated individuals in 2009 and 2010. Among this group, 22.9 percent, or roughly one of every five prisoners, was homeless when incarcerated, that is they were staying in a shelter, living on the street (in places considered unfit for human habitation), in a treatment facility, or staying at the home of a friend, paying no rent. Overall, 32.2 percent, or almost one of every three prisoners had plans upon discharge to go to a shelter, live on the street, or couch-surf at the home of a friend. Another 12 percent of these prisoners are at risk of being homeless since they do not know where they will go.
The report will be released as part of Prisoners Justice Day activities at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church (10 Trinity Square – Bay and Queen – Behind the Eaton Centre) at 12:30pm on August 10th. Prisoner’s Justice Day is an annual memorial day, dedicated to all those who have lost their lives while in custody.
Researchers Amber Kellen and Sylvia Novac will be among the presenters.