Natasha Alladina

The Project

In Georgia and around the country, an individual’s criminal record creates a significant barrier to finding stable housing—a crucial deterrent to recidivism and an essential component of successful reintegration into the community. The Project will expand Georgia Justice Project’s direct service, education, and policy efforts in order to address access to housing for people with a criminal record.

Sixty-six percent of landlords and property managers will not accept an applicant with a criminal history. This Project will work to reduce systemic barriers to housing for individuals with a criminal history through policy advocacy, education, and direct representation.

As a former public defender, I saw first-hand just how crucial access to stable housing is for individuals involved in the criminal justice system. And through my work with the Wrongful Convictions Clinic at Duke Law School, I became acutely aware of the collateral consequences that a criminal record can have for an individual. Although our team was able to get our client’s conviction overturned, the obstacles he faced upon receiving his freedom made it feel like his wrongful conviction would continue to haunt him. Things like getting an ID became seemingly insurmountable…these experiences led me to apply for this Fellowship. I have the drive, the collaborative spirit, and the institutional knowledge to bullishly push for systemic change and increase access to stable housing for individuals with a criminal history. I look forward to continuing this work over the course of the fellowship and beyond!

Fellowship Plans

• Eliminate barriers to housing for people with criminal records by assisting clients with record restriction (expungement), sealing, retroactive first offender, corrections, pardons, and other matters related to their criminal history.
• Promote statewide education to ensure compliance with state and federal guidance, including HUD’s November 2015 Guidance and April 2016 Guidance, which laid out substantial limitations to the consideration of criminal records in public and private housing decisions.
• Work with the Reentry Housing Work Group, which consists of private and public stakeholders, to advocate for criminal justice reforms that will improve access to housing for justice-involved individuals.