Inside a Spiral: Analysing Pathways of Single Homelessness and Criminal Justice Experiences in Montevideo

Uruguay faces a problem of homelessness levels and imprisoned population, reaching almost 4000 homeless in Montevideo in 2021, and more of 13500 incarcerated in 2021. The prison rate is one of the highest in South America, 328 per 100.000 habitants. Homelessness has been steadily increasing since the first survey in 2006, and that subsequent censuses show that a considerable number of homeless people have passed through the adult prison system at least once. A social policy of broad coverage for homeless people, primarily focused on providing night accommodation has been in place since 2005. The imprisoned, and homeless people, make up two populations with serious deprivations in pivotal aspects of human existence, opportunities, and citizen rights. Resettlement needs are alarming, and research into the complexities of the processes and aspects underlying the association when it comes to the penal system and homelessness related experiences context specific is timely. Semi-structured qualitative interviews alongside a quantitative technique, the life history calendar (LHC), were the specific tools for studying connections between homelessness and the penal system through vital time of a purposive sample of homeless former inmates living in Montevideo. The thesis concludes that homelessness experiences with the penal system are strictly associated with extreme poverty, victimization in prison, absence of preventative strategies to prevent and manage prison release, violation of fundamental human rights, and threatening release environments.