TRANSPORTATION!

23 Employers

80 Reentrants

11 Counties In

20 Towns

There are 569 towns and cities in our state, and statistics say that every one of them have reentrant-citizens who live there along with employers who need employees. Today, through Indiana Regional Recovery Hubs across the state, 2nd Chance Indiana is helping 80 reentrants get to and from work in 20 Indiana towns and cities, through 11 counties, to work for 23 employers. 

Without transportation help, these folks would not be able to get to and from work, or keep their jobs. Successful employment increases self-sufficiency and a commitment to improved health and a better future. Therefore, it is critical that our state leaders recognize and support reliable transportation for more reentrants, because a job and a ride reduce recidivism and engender self-reliance as they create a sound financial foundation on which to grow, and raise healthier families.

NO HOME NO BABY, NO KIDDING:

Ten years After Release & No Rental Would Take Them

On a bitterly cold day recently, a desperate couple turned up at 2nd Chance Indiana’s headquarters. David had been released a decade ago and had had a good job for a long time. But like so many with a criminal record, no one would rent to him.

Now, married with a baby in the hospital, he and his wife, Tiffany, had been told the hospital would not release the baby unless they had “stable” housing. They'd been living in a motel and needed an apartment or a rental house, but continued to be denied a lease. When we heard their story, 2nd Chance Indiana’s Scott Whiting started making connections, and within a couple of days, David and Tiffany were able to be “properly housed,” clearing the way for the baby to come home.

We train, and find jobs, and mentors, and transport people to work when possible. But because of our partnership with caring organizations across the state, we can together provide help in virtually every area of need. Thanks to all our partners for the work they do!

Photo: David and Tiffany, with their dog Lily, celebrating their new home.

JEFF MADRY, PRAYER TEAM LEADER:

2nd Chance Indiana Developing

A 92-County Prayer Team

We've long hoped to engage churches and individuals across the Hoosier landscape to join in prayer to support people and organizations that promote renewal in the lives of Indiana reentrants.

Enter Jeff Madry, a man with lived experience and a heart for God, who was recommended to us to lead this effort. Jeff is young at heart and eager to help. He'll be calling churches across the state asking them if they have a prayer team among pastors, church leaders, or members of the congregation, that would want to pray once a week for reentrant issues. Jeff will organize the email list of prayer team leaders in the various churches, and 2nd Chance Indiana will email the prayer leader each week with a prayer request to disseminate to their prayer warriors. We believe prayer changes things, and hope our prayers will join together across the state to benefit everyone who is working hard to change their lives and their futures.

PHOTO: Jeff Madry, 2nd Chance Indiana Prayer Team Leader, and Nancy Cotterill, E.V.P. 2nd Chance Indiana.

TRUSTED MENTORS:

2nd Chance Indiana

Partner Trains Mentors Matched With Reentrants 

Most reentrants want and need a mentor to help them navigate the challenges and opportunities as they return to society, and to that end, Trusted Mentors' Stephen Pepper recently held a session with three new trainees who will soon become friends and mentors to reentrants from the Marion County Adult Detention Center.

The training covers mentor roles, the matching process between the mentor and mentee, confidentiality practices, boundaries, commitment, and the essential qualities such as persistence, patience, empathy, and trust.

Ultimately, mentoring not only benefits the mentee, but the relationship also blesses the mentor who finds fulfillment in working with someone who needs a friend during a difficult time of readjustment. 

PHOTO: L to R: Charles Cantrell, Trusted Mentor Board Member; Stephen Pepper, Trusted Mentor Instructor; Scott Whiting, 2CI VP; and Trainees: Chas Schaffernoth, Gary Fitzer, and Tom Stoffel. 

MAKING A DIFFERENCE:

Indiana Representatives

PLEASE READ THIS!

A recent 2nd Chance Indiana social post about transporting reentrants was reposted more than 40 times. Tim Thompson, the Transportation Coordinator with LITE,* which supplies van transport for reentrants through 2nd Chance Indiana, was taken aback by the overwhelming number of voice mails. ”You have 100 new messages,” said the recorder on his phone. They were all voice mails from reentrants asking for transportation help.

No Surprise. Car ownership is often not possible after release. Many may not qualify for an auto loan due to a low credit score or for simply having a criminal record. For them, no car can mean no job and no potential to achieve financial security.

It is critical for our state leaders to recognize and support reliable transportation for more reentrants, because a job and a ride can reduce recidivism as much as 90% according to some studies. FACT: Employed men and women pay taxes, and are not likely to commit crimes. In fact 89% of formerly incarcerated people who are rearrested do not have a job. That's pretty clear. Read more HERE!