Housing Shortage Critical for County Inmates

There is a critical shortage of housing available for soon-to-be-released inmates in Lancaster County. Participants at Thursday's Crime Summit described the housing shortage as one of the biggest problems facing Lancaster County.

About 600 people are released each month from Lancaster County Prison. Of those, about 10% have no homes or place to live. Without a home, the released inmate is likely to re-offend, and returned to prison.

Currently, Lancaster County has slightly fewer than 800 beds available for parolees and the homeless: 214 beds are for emergencies (women's shelters, etc.); 491 for transitional housing; and 89 beds for permanent housing. Often those using the beds stay for several months. Officials from local agencies that provide the housing estimate only 30-40% of the beds needed are available.

In January of this year, there was a census conducted which found there were more than 700 homeless in Lancaster County.

Subsidized housing is also in short supply. Only 10% of those in need for subsidized housing are being served, according to officials.