THUNDER BAY -- The Elizabeth Fry Society of Northwestern Ontario will lead a study on the criminalization of women who are homeless or housing-insecure.
The non-profit organization received a $15,000 grant for the project from the Law Foundation of Ontario.
It will conduct the research in partnership with faculty members from Lakehead University's Health Sciences department.
The Elizabeth Fry Society already provides advocacy and programming for criminalized women, including help reintegrating into the community after release from the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre.
In a statement on Monday, the group said the study team will conduct focus groups and engage women "with lived experience" to assess the extent to which housing insecurity and homelessness leads to their involvement with the criminal justice system.
The project will pay particular attention to Indigenous women.
One of the issues to be examined is how homelessness influences bail decisions in court.
Mary Veltri, president of the local branch of the society, said "In order to avoid the revolving door between homelessness and incarceration, it is hoped that this research will lay the foundation for adequate housing to be built for women being released from custody into the community."
Other partners in the project include Lakehead University's Faculty of Law, Alpha Court and Thunder Bay Shelter House.
Work is expected to begin this July, with a final report expected by September 2019.
