Will Reentrants Be Losing
Jobs They Need To Survive?
Have you driven by groups of idle men together on a street corner, or sitting on someone’s steps during the work week in the middle of the day? I’ll bet you anything many have been kept out of the job market because employers “couldn’t take the chance” of hiring someone with a criminal record.
When the Manhattan Institute came out with findings that recidivism dropped 90% when a reentrant got a good job soon after release, people were stunned. For decades anyone with a criminal record could not get a job, much less one that paid a living wage.
The key words there are LIVING WAGE. 2nd Chance Indiana has specialized in job creation for reentrants, seeking out jobs that pay beginning wages of around $17 to $23. The first hurdle is to find employers who are willing to work with people who have a record, who have to take time off for meetings with parole officials, or drug testing, or wear an ankle monitor to work. We found them and connected reentrants with jobs. But we soon found out that many of even the best reentrant-employees were losing their jobs for unexcused absences. They simply had no reliable way to work.
We found out (the hard way) that the number one barrier to keeping these jobs was the lack of affordable and reliable transportation, which began the 2nd Chance van transportation program that has grown tremendously. State and county support has responded and we’ve found a system that not only helps reentrants, it also keeps production moving along at so many Indiana businesses. With a ride to work, these reentry employees not only are able to show up every day—they prove they are reliable and good at their jobs, as they earn a real paycheck, support their families, and provide a foundation on which to build a new and better life.
The effort is so successful that we are contacted weekly for more van transportation help.Yet with some funding at an end, and the need continuing to grow, more support is needed. Without continued funding, many of the vans we already have will stop running and a large portion of those who need transportation will lose their jobs. We’ve found a program that really works, and we’re doing all we can to continue.
I hope together we can bridge this gap,
Nancy
