investing in the lives of returning citizens
"We serve a god of redemption. our god is all about second chances."
Below is A short video to give you an idea of who we are and what we feel called to do.
the need
639 per 100,000
people will be incarcerated at one point in their life.
95%
of current inmates in the state of Florida will one day be released.
2.7 Billion
The FDC is the third largest state prison system in the country with a budget of $2.7 billion. Florida ranks near the bottom of education funding, coming in at Number 41 with a budget of $10,098 per student, while spending $24,265 on average per year to house a Florida inmate in prison
Incarceration impacts marriages, children, & homelessness
Take a look at the facts below to see the far reaching effects of incarceration.
quick facts one
Feature one
Family Impact
Every year a married partner is incarcerated their likelihood of divorce increases by 32%
quick facts two
Feature two
Impact on children
Children of incarcerated parents are 5 times more likely to go to prison.
quick facts three
Feature three
Impact on homelessness
At least 60,000 children become homeless each year as a result of parental incarceration.
quick facts four
Feature four
jail time and homelessness
The risk of homelessness increases for people with multiple convictions. The Prison Policy Initiative found that people who have been incarcerated more than once are 13 times more likely than the general public to experience homelessness, whereas people who have been incarcerated once are 7 times more likely.
real lasting change
Many non-profits come to mind when thinking about needs within the community. However, none come to mind regarding the needs of ex-offenders, hereafter referred to as returning citizens. Many people returning from incarceration envision a better life, but don't have a roadmap or the knowledge and support to get there. That's where we come in...
The prison system touches nearly every family in the United States.
According to Forbes, more than 70 million people in this country—one in three adults—have a criminal record. Most of them—about 45 million—have a misdemeanor conviction.
those able to find work face A lifetime of lower wages
Although these convictions often involve low-level offenses, like loitering or trespassing, research shows that people with misdemeanor convictions can face a multitude of cascading collateral consequences, including a lifetime of lower wages. A conviction makes it harder to find a job or obtain a professional license, and often leads to work that is temporary, part-time, and low-paying. (Quote taken from Forbes)
Every year, millions of people pay billions in fines, fees, and court costs
These fines are most detrimental to lower income families or people already experiencing poverty. "One study in Alabama found that more than 80 percent of people gave up things like food, rent, medical bills, car payments, and child support to pay down their court debt. People who can’t pay fines and fees face driver’s license suspensions and jail time for their inability to pay." -Forbes
These punishments often make it impossible to work to pay off the fines. Creating a paradox of people who want to work but can't and are plummeted further into financial crisis.
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Latest news and inspiring stories
Learn more about the impacts of incarceration in the U.S by taking the quiz.
Approximately how million children have experienced parental incarceration at some point in their lives?
2.7 million children in the US have an incarcerated parent
Read stories from our students
Johnny Levy