Too often, people released from prison eventually violate their parole or commit new crimes and end up back in prison. The Institute for Human Services, known for its work with homeless people, is trying to end that cycle with a re-entry program that serves as a bridge between release from prison and full reintegration into society.
The program provides shelter and services, so residents have a base from which to secure vital documents, apply for jobs, begin work and open bank accounts while being part of a community of like-minded people looking to make a new start. Right now, the program has 40 participants spread across three sites, one of them supervised by Tana Alualu, who himself spent seven years behind bars.
Eddie Reed, incarcerated intermittently since 2010, says he finds inspiration in the program’s combination of freedom and support, which he says has created career opportunities for him and fueled his personal growth. When you talk with Reed, you realize that, for him, simply living a “normal” life is remarkable…