Reentry Cash Assistance

When Jennifer was released from prison in Michigan at age 38, she came home without financial support, carrying grief, stigma, and the immediate pressure to survive. Jennifer was born and raised in Michigan, the oldest of three children. Her childhood was shaped by instability.

When Adam walked out of prison on January 8, 2020, he was returning to a world that looked very different from the one he left. He was 49 years old, coming home to Michigan with determination, preparation, and one critical thing many people leaving prison do not have: ability to meet basic needs.

Kayla, a young woman from Compton, California, received reentry cash assistance at a critical turning point. Kayla’s early years were shaped by hardship. She experienced frequent encounters with the law and struggled with homelessness. But after her last stint in jail in 2016, she decided to turn her life around.

In 2024, the California Workforce Development Board (CWDB) launched the Helping Justice-Involved Reenter Employment (HIRE) initiative, a $50 million investment in nonprofit-led employment services for people returning from incarceration. The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) and its statewide reentry partners were awarded $6.9 million, $2 million of which was set aside for direct cash assistance to help participants cover immediate needs like housing, transportation, and bare essentials.

Before her incarcerated, Vianca struggled with addiction and homelessness. When she released from jail in Lynwood County, California in 2024, she was finally sober and determined to rebuild her life. Although ready to find a job and create a new future, she knew she lacked the resources and support needed to succeed, until she was connected to Turning Point.

Growing up in northern California, Angie was always into music. When she was younger, she would record and perform her own material and dreamed of attending the Los Angeles Film School to study music production.

When Heather was released from incarceration, she was determined to use those strengths to build a better future for herself and others like her. Still, despite her determination, she faced significant barriers to stability and employment. That’s where the CA HIRE grant came in—an initiative from the California Workforce Development Board designed to support individuals navigating reentry. Through the grant, Heather received $1,500 in targeted financial assistance to help her get back on her feet. The grant provides training, resources, and critical needs-based payments through the Center for Employment Opportunities’ network of partner organizations. Its goal is to reduce recidivism and empower justice-impacted individuals with the tools for lasting success.

Growing up in Los Angeles, Dina faced her teenage years chasing distractions rather than diplomas. Those early choices led her into the criminal justice system and eventually incarceration. But when she returned home, ready to rebuild her life, Dina quickly encountered the harsh financial realities of reentry. She knew change was possible, but also that it wasn’t free.

John grew up in South Sacramento, California, and saw things that a young boy just shouldn’t see. “It became normal to see drug dealing, drug use, violent crimes, people getting messed up, people getting shot,” said John. “It’s what I thought life was like.” A child of divorce, John lived with his mother, who he says wasn’t as involved as she should have been.

When Shayne returned home from incarceration, he faced the same overwhelming reality that so many justice-impacted individuals do—starting over with nothing but $100 and the clothes on his back. In previous attempts at reentry, the financial strain became unbearable, leading him back to old habits as a way to cope. But this time was different. This time, he had support.

Growing up in Del Paso Heights, Sacramento, Isaac faced many challenges. With two parents who struggled with addiction and were often incarcerated, he was in and out of foster care and soon started getting into trouble in his early teens for fighting.

William grew up in an underserved community in south central Los Angeles with limited opportunities. He was raised by his hardworking mother, who juggled multiple jobs to support him and his 10 siblings. Like many others raised in similar situations, when his mother passed away at just 42, William struggled to find his path. Without guidance or support, he turned to substances to cope, leading to choices that resulted in his incarceration.