The Providence Housing Authority will no longer automatically disqualify housing applicants with criminal convictions. Advocates say the longstanding policy hurt people trying to reenter society.
Under the new policy applicants for housing with a criminal history will be considered on a case by case basis. Old policy denied people with criminal histories up to ten years prior outright. The look-back period into an applicant’s background is now reduced from 10 years to five.
Providence Housing Authority head Paul Tavares said the new rules could help former criminals stay out of trouble.
“The old policy in my opinion was onerous,” said Tavares. “It did not give people an opportunity for a second chance. It almost created a situation where recidivism was almost guaranteed.”
Taveras says the organization will monitor the new policy closely.
“So as we move forward with this we want to gather as much data as we can to see what impacts, both positive and negative, this policy will have,” said Tavares.
The housing authority will review the new policy in a year to determine if any further changes should be made. The Providence Housing Authority operates housing in the city for low-income and elderly tenants at fixed rents. Providence joins other municipalities nationwide, which have made similar changes.
