TORONTO - A growing number of Toronto men are caught in a "revolving door" between jail and shelters, leaving many who leave prison homeless, suggested a report released Tuesday.
Researchers for the John Howard Society of Toronto interviewed 363 sentenced prisoners who had spent at least five consecutive nights in custody.
Their findings show about 22 per cent of prisoners were homeless when they were incarcerated, meaning they lived on the street, in a shelter, at a treatment facility or were staying at the home of a friend.
The average stay in custody was a little more than two months.
The report said that within days of discharge the prisoners' housing plans indicate that their overall projected rate of homelessness would increase by 40 per cent.
About 32 per cent said they had plans of returning to a shelter, living on the street or "couch surfing" after being released, while another 12 per cent of prisoners said they don't know where they will go, and they are at a risk of being homeless.
"This is a large, identifiable stream of people who should be targeted for assistance to reduce chronic homelessness," the report stated.
Greg Rogers, the executive director of the society, said in a news release the number of homeless being released from prisons is growing.
"We have identified a pattern where they are returning to resource-poor neighbourhoods that are ill-equipped to provide employment opportunities, good housing or adequate support services," said Rogers.
Rogers said the best way to prevent repeat criminal activity is to focus spending on community services.
