46-23-1040. Policy -- housing options after release. (1) It is the policy of the state of Montana that individuals released from the Montana state prison or community corrections programs be afforded every reasonable opportunity to obtain permanent housing in order to increase the likelihood that the individuals will succeed in:

(a) finding employment;

(b) establishing ties to the community; and

(c) avoiding recidivism and a return to prison or other corrections programs.

(2) In order to accomplish the purposes of this section, the department shall:

(a) coordinate with local governments and local agencies to identify all available housing options within a community;

(b) encourage efforts to increase available housing options; and

(c) identify for each individual leaving the corrections system the community resources available to the individual to assist with housing needs.