Home for Good Headed to Veto Session!
The countdown is on to rally support for HB624 - a smart, compassionate plan for reentry housing in Illinois.
Advocates will be in Springfield in the upcoming veto session to secure the passage of Home for Good (HB624), legislation that creates a comprehensive, transformative housing program for people returning home from Illinois prisons.
Home for Good passed the Illinois House in the spring legislative session and needs approval in the Illinois Senate. It is supported by a coalition more than 60 statewide organizations dedicated to ensuring that people who have paid their debt are not blocked from access to safe and stable housing. The veto session starts Nov. 17 – and Home for Good needs your support now to build momentum and bring this home for good.
Join the effort to support smart, compassionate policy that will create safety and stability for Illinois.
Get Involved: Home for Good Actions and Events
The Home for Good Act (HB624), sponsored by Sen. Adriane Johnson and Rep. Maurice West, creates a program and strategy to expand housing and support services for people returning from prison with a comprehensive plan that is cost-effective and humane – and one that recognizes the unique barriers people with criminal records face.
70% of people in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) struggled with homelessness and unstable housing before they were incarcerated and these challenges remain when they leave. Some 45% of people leaving IDOC are unemployed for at least three years. There are only 34 affordable and available homes for every 100 extremely low-income renters in the state.
Illinois needs a solution. Home for Good is the answer.
Home for Good has three main components: Rental assistance; connection to wraparound services; and reentry housing development with training and technical assistance.
It is based on programs that have proven to work because they pair housing with coordinated reentry supports – reducing recidivism by up to 68%. Recidivism is expensive – up to $199,000 per return. Instead, Home for Good has a projected $477 million cost benefit within three years. It will save taxpayer dollars and create safer, stronger communities across Illinois.
Home for Good was designed with direct input from those who have been incarcerated and who have experienced the barriers and struggle to find safe and stable housing. It addresses current gaps in the human services systems.
The Home for Good Coalition in Action
The Home for Good Coalition is crossing the state to build support for expanded housing access for people leaving incarceration – HB624 will improve the reentry strategy for Illinois and will reap long-term social and economic benefits for the state
Chicago Bulls great Joakim Noah motivating the Home for Good Coalition at rally in March
Home for Good is Smart
Coalition member Javier Reyes beside Abraham Lincoln statue showing what Home for Good stands for: Equity and Opportunity
Home for Good is Compassionate
Celia Colón, Harry Peña and Yolanda Peña at the statehouse explaining to lawmakers why everyone deserves a Home for Good
Home for Good is Organized
Illinois Justice Project Director Ahmadou Dramé and Coalition members celebrating Home for Good (HB624) passing the Housing Committee
Home for Good is Advocacy
Coalition member Marlon Chamberlain leading a teach-in at Home for Good rally in March
News about Home for Good
- WAND:: Home for Good: IL House passes bill expanding housing, support services for people returning from prison (April 17)
- WBEZ:: Home for Good event promotes second chances for ex-prisoners (March 20)
- Fox32 Chicago:: Ex-Bull Joakim Noah backs Illinois bill to expand housing support for people leaving prison (March 19, 2026)
- Press Release: Senator Adriane Johnson: “Johnson joins coalition to unveil Home for Good proposal to strengthen public safety and support successful reentry” (February 25, 2026)
- WAND: “Home for Good: IL bill could expand housing, support services for people returning from prison” (February 25, 2026)
- Around PTown: “New Home for Good Legislation will Reduce Homelessness, Increase Public Safety while Saving Taxpayer Money” (February 25, 2026)
- Chambana Today: "Coalition unveils ‘Home for Good’ legislation aimed at reducing homelessness among returning citizens" (February 25, 2026)
- The TriiBE: "Criminal justice advocates propose bill to prevent homelessness among formerly incarcerated people" (February 25, 2026)
- Press Release: Home for Good legislation unveiled in Springfield. Coalition members joined Sponsors West and Johnson at the Illinois Capitol to announce program details. (February 25, 2026)
- Capital Fax: "It's Just a Bill" (February 23, 2026)
- Chicago Sun-Times: "Thousands leaving Illinois prisons face high risk of housing instability, new study finds" (December 4, 2025)
- Loyola University: Coming Home? Assessing the Housing Needs of People Nearing Release from Illinois Prisons (December 4, 2025)
About Home for Good
The Problem: There is a strong link between incarceration and housing instability no effective statewide plan to address it.
Stable housing & support services help people build lives as contributing members of strong and safe communities. However, people with arrest and conviction records face barriers in accessing stable housing, including discrimination, stigma, & inadequate affordable housing supply
Only 34 affordable & available homes exist for every 100 extremely low-income IL renters.
45% of people leaving IDOC are unemployed for at least 3 years.
37% of people return to Illinois prisons within three years of release, costing $199,000 each time.
70% of people in IDOC were homeless or unstably housed before prison.
The Solution: Home for Good creates a statewide, comprehensive program that builds on the success of existing reentry housing models.
Programs that serve as the model have proven to work – reducing recidivism by up to 68%.
Recidivism is expensive – up to $199,000 per return. It is in the state’s best interest to avoid returning people to prison, both for individuals and the financial health of Illinois.
There is even more cost-benefit to Home for Good. For every $1 invested in Home for Good solutions like reentry rental subsidies and supports services, there is a $5 return within 3 years. That is a $477 million cost-benefit within 3 years.
A Home for Good oversight committee will support implementation and ensure that that community organizations across Illinois are connected to the housing programs.
Illinois communities will be safer and stronger.
Home for Good consists of three main program elements, each intended to address a critical reentry issue. Legislation will appropriate funds to the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) and the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA), who will collaborate with the Illinois Department of Corrections. These agencies will disburse the funds through grants to community-based reentry or development organizations.
Rental Assistance. Provide long-term rental subsidies to people leaving incarceration, helping them access housing so they can focus on building stability and independence in other aspects of their lives.
Wraparound Services. Designed to build on a legacy of successful community-based reentry organizations providing reentry navigation and connecting returning residents to needed services including behavioral health, physical health, job training, transportation, furniture and food, childcare, and more.
Creation of the Home for Good Institute, which will provide cohort-based training and technical assistance to community-based reentry service providers and support the creation and operation of affordable housing.
Home for Good is supported by the following organizations:
