You’re Getting Released - Now What?
You’ve been through countless hours of training and preparation for your new life. So many of you have spent countless years behind bars. Now you feel you’re ready to take on the world. You’ve had to find employment to get out of the halfway house. You’ve learned quickly that while making so many life decisions so quickly is uncomfortable, after years of being unable to make any decisions, you move forward. If you are lucky, a job that pays $18.00 an hour seems good after making $1.00 an hour in prison. A study by the Prison Policy Initiative tells us that nearly 75% of women remain unemployed a year after their release. You must disclose that you are a felon, so many doors won’t open for discussion even if you’re highly qualified. This is the most significant hardship to get past to be able to establish life after incarceration.
This difficulty and the many others you face quickly remind you that you haven’t escaped the weight of being a felon. It’s a unique stigma that reminds you daily that society will not let you forget you’ve made a mistake. It’s a difficult pill to swallow as you mentally have come to this new place where you have allowed the past to be the past. It falls especially hard on mothers as many will continue to judge if you are fit to be a mother anymore. It has one wondering what the point of incarceration and punishment is if you are unable to get past that moment in time. Ever so quietly, you begin to lose that sense of self you had built while away. For those who haven’t experienced this, don’t begin to realize that it takes everything in you to start over. And you’re ready, even excited, to take on the challenge. But it is disheartening to keep reliving the mistakes where you have already paid such a dear price. When and where do you go to get that clean break? It's a real chance to start over. Society will have to realize that they are part of the problem when they don’t give a person credit for the time served and for paying the price for their crime.
As important as a job, is a safe place to live where you can ground yourself and even feel okay about having family and friends visit. This and basic transportation are the next critical steps to start over. And as much as this is happening to you as a felon, I want to remind you of how many people are constantly working on reliable transportation. This is common to your situation, as many people work toward having stable transportation, though losing this benefit for you is more complicated with your requirements while on paper.
A place to live that feels safe and finding decent transportation are on the list of things to accomplish immediately. If you didn’t learn this prior, you will now see that many landlords simply will not rent to a felon. Your options for a safe and conveniently located living space are more limited. Sadly, women who are unable to find a stable living environment are at high risk of finding themself homeless or returning to unsafe experiences that led to their incarceration in the first place.
With these significant challenges, reentry programs that can be found across the country are beginning to step up and help women rebuild their lives. Here are just some who are actively aiding in this area:
The Women’s Prison Association (WPA): This organization provides housing assistance, career training, and parenting support for women reentering society, helping them address the root causes of their incarceration.
Homecoming Project (California): A unique program that connects formerly incarcerated individuals with hosts willing to offer stable housing, reducing homelessness and increasing their chances of success.
STRIVE: Focused on job readiness, STRIVE offers career training and placement services tailored to women with criminal records, helping them secure meaningful employment.
College & Community Fellowship (CCF): This program empowers formerly incarcerated women to achieve higher education by providing mentorship, scholarships, and advocacy for removing barriers to learning.
The journey from incarceration to reintegration is full of obstacles, but it is not a path women should have to walk alone. By supporting reentry programs and advocating for systemic change, we can create a society where women have the tools and opportunities to rebuild their lives—and thrive.