For A More Just Texas, We Must Restore Hope for the Formerly Incarcerated

It is well documented that Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs applies to individuals during incarceration and upon returning back to the community. Of the five levels of the hierarchy of needs, physiological needs are first and the minimum necessity for every person. But accessible and affordable housing remains elusive for many recently released individuals. Even as we make strides across the state and the nation to work through justice and prison reform issues, new barriers arise for families that are justice-involved. Here in Texas new rules that would restrict or even permanently bar justice-involved individuals from receiving state-supported housing are under consideration. This is just one of countless examples of the ways our society makes it harder for those leaving prison to avoid recidivating.