Robert is a 67-year-old man who spent 22 years in prison and now faces a new kind of punishment: homelessness. After being released with no support or resources, he has lived on the streets of Atlanta for more than five years.
“I did the time society asked me to do, but now I’m homeless at 67,” Robert says. His words capture the devastating reality many formerly incarcerated people face — a system that releases them from one sentence only to condemn them to another.
Despite his determination to rebuild his life, finding work has been nearly impossible. Ageism and his criminal record keep employers from giving him a chance. “Nobody’s going to hire me at 67,” he says. Robert once secured a job at Waffle House, but when a background check revealed his past, the offer was withdrawn before he could even start.
To survive, Robert does what he can to survive, including cutting grass and flying a sign—panhandling—a task he describes as “degrading, but I have to survive.” He spends nights trying to stay safe, finding temporary shelter wherever he can, all while navigating the stigma that follows both homelessness and incarceration.
Robert’s story isn’t unique. Thousands of people across the United States are released from prisons and jails each year with nowhere to go. Without stable housing or reentry support, many end up living on the streets. Others cycle back into the criminal justice system for survival crimes or parole violations. As Robert explains, “So many people get out of prison and have nowhere to go.”
The lack of housing and employment options for people reentering society is a driving force behind homelessness. Research shows that formerly incarcerated individuals are nearly ten times more likely to experience homelessness than the general population. When people are released without support, it not only harms them — it harms entire communities. The cycle of homelessness and recidivism strains public resources, increases incarceration costs, and makes neighborhoods less safe.
Experts agree that investing in housing and reentry programs is far more cost-effective than allowing people to fall into homelessness and possibly return to prison. Providing housing, job training, and mental health support can help people like Robert rebuild their lives with dignity and stability.
As Robert reflects on his life, he wishes for things many of us take for granted: “I wish I’d never sold drugs. I wish I had a place to live. I wish I could get a job.”
His story is a powerful reminder that homelessness is not a choice — it’s a systemic failure. Reforming our criminal justice and housing systems isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s the only way to break the cycle for good.
