Illinois Dems seek to expand post-release convict support, housing
[May 23, 2026]
By Sean Reed | The Center Square
(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 designed to break this costly cycle.”
Dramé said the proposal consists of four parts – existing rental
assistance programs, support for community re-entry programs, building
more state-owned rental units, and the creation of a ‘Home For Good
Institute,’ which would provide training and support to organizations at
the local level.
Sen. Adriane Johnson, D-Waukegan, the bill’s sponsor, said the
overarching goal of the law would be to save taxpayer dollars in the
long-term.
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“This proposal will create safer, stronger communities across
Illinois by improving housing and support services for people
returning from prison to prevent homelessness, increase public
safety, and save taxpayers money,” said Johnson.
In the proposal, the savings for taxpayers would come at the
near-term cost of up to $35 million, which has been pledged by the
state’s Restore, Reinvest, and Renew, or R3, board. Grant
applications for the funding have already closed.
Critics of the proposal have previously said they worry about using
taxpayer funds to provide housing and support to people with
criminal histories, especially when violent in nature.
Supporters, including those who testified before the committee, have
in turn argued the proposal should be looked at as an investment
being made by the state, using already existing funds.
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