Drawing from his personal experience with the criminal justice system, Joseph Lauren will be speaking about how he channels his legal background and lived experience through Restorative Justice Housing Ontario toward a goal of breaking the cycle of homelessness and incarceration while also challenging society’s perception of ex-offenders as tenants. Joseph’s efforts since release from prison include public speaking to student groups across Canada and producing an educational crime-prevention documentary titled “Collared.” Under his leadership and using a unique respect-based approach, RJHO has empowered over 50 formerly incarcerated individuals committed to reform to reintegrate back into society by providing them with a foundation of stable and safe below-market-rate housing and comprehensive support services. Joseph’s unique perspective as both a former lawyer and ex-prisoner makes him particularly effective in addressing the complex challenges of post-custody housing for the justice involved.
Presenters: Joseph Lauren and Colin S.
Joseph Lauren (formerly Joseph Grmovsek) is a compelling figure who transformed from being the first and still only Canadian to receive a Federal sentence of imprisonment for insider trading to becoming a dedicated advocate for ex-offender housing solutions. As Program Director of Restorative Justice Housing Ontario (RJHO.ca) since its founding, he has led the entirely donor-funded organization’s growth from half a home housing three men at the start of 2020 and the pandemic to now five houses accommodating 21 men and women in the Greater Toronto Area.
Joseph will be joined by Colin S., a long-time RJHO resident who exemplifies successful rehabilitation. Having overcome crack addiction and multiple criminal convictions, Colin now serves in a supervisory capacity at a downtown Toronto food bank, dedicating over 40 weekly volunteer hours to community service.
Moderator: Safiyah Husein, Director of Policy, the John Howard Society of Ontario
The John Howard Society of Ontario (JHSO) is a provincial non-profit dedicated to research, policy development, public education, and program evaluation in the criminal justice sector, with a focus on prevention, reintegration, and systemic change. Collaborating with 19 community offices across Ontario, JHSO supports individuals affected by the justice system. They recently completed a two-part research project examining the connections between housing, homelessness, and justice involvement. Their latest report, Locked Up-Locked Out, explores these critical intersections and highlights the role of stable housing in reducing justice system interactions.
Presented by the Provincial Human Services and Justice Coordinating Committee on March 19, 2025.
