Objective: Formerly incarcerated individuals face significant housing instability upon reentry, which is widely theorized to contribute to recidivism. This systematic review synthesizes empirical evidence on the relationship between housing barriers and recidivism among this population, examining both the strength of the association and the mechanisms through which housing instability leads to criminal justice involvement.

Method: Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search of PsycINFO, ProQuest Criminal Justice, PubMed, and Scopus was conducted for peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2025. A total of 71 studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods designs. Quality assessment was performed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT).

Results: The synthesis reveals a robust, dose-response relationship between housing instability and recidivism. Homelessness and unstable housing were consistently associated with a 25-60% increase in the likelihood of re-arrest and re-incarceration across longitudinal studies. Key barriers include restrictive housing policies (e.g., exclusionary zoning, criminal history-based screening), structural poverty, lack of affordable housing, and the collateral consequences of registration requirements. Qualitative findings highlight the psychological distress and survival behaviors (e.g., criminal activity for shelter) that mediate this relationship. Successful interventions are rare but point toward Housing First models and coordinated reentry planning as promising, with some studies demonstrating recidivism reductions of 25-30%.

Conclusion: Housing stability is a critical determinant of successful reentry. The evidence suggests that current housing policies that exclude individuals with criminal records are counterproductive to public safety goals. Policy reforms aimed at reducing discriminatory housing practices and expanding access to supportive housing are essential public safety strategies.

Keywords: recidivism, housing instability, homelessness, reentry, formerly incarcerated, systematic review, collateral consequences, housing policy.