In August of 2020, Here to Help Foundation launched our Returning Hope to Returning Citizens program which is a very personalized and ongoing form of total assistance, from the time an individual walks out of prison.
The program has been incredibly successful as we have assisted returning citizens on over 6000 occasions on their path of success.
The program is for those returning from a Michigan prison and having been out of prison for 12 months or less (though there are exceptions so contact us if you have been out longer). We provide help as follows:
STEP LADDER PROGRAM OF WAYS WE CAN HELP
1. Once an application is submitted to us, we meet you in person ASAP and provide Walmart gift cards to assist you in obtaining new clothing, toiletries, food and other basic necessities that you need upon release from prison.
2. We can also provide resource guides, including how to obtain a State ID or Driver's License or Social Security card or a phone or referrals for counseling or substance abuse treatment etc.
3. We provide detailed referral sources for obtaining immediate employment or job training and education for skilled jobs/vocational training (welding, carpentry, electrician, HVAC, Commercial Driver’s License, masonry etc.).
4. Once employment is obtained or schooling begins, we can provide further Walmart gift cards for additional needs, including work or school related clothing etc.
We can also address any transportation issues you may be having in getting to work.
5. If you have a particular skill and your job requires specific tools or equipment, we can obtain those items.
6. The next step is helping you move into a home/apartment of your own when you have saved $1000.00 from employment (or from disability payments) we will provide you our Housing Resource Guide which has leads and listings of available housing from apartments to houses/flats or rooms to rent as we seek to match your needs and income level to find the best housing situation for you.
You can’t be working for a staffing or temporary employment agency as long term those jobs are not continuous.
7. Once a residence is found and your approval as a tenant has been accomplished, we will email some questions to help us determine if it is a good fit and the rent etc. will be doable based on the your income, monthly bills etc.
If all is good, we can usually go 50/50 on the move-in costs of first month rent and the security deposit (up to a maximum of $1000.00 from us).
8. We can next help with your furniture needs (full size mattress, box spring and frame, nightstand, lamp, couch and dining room table) and home furnishings (dishes, glasses, silverware, pots/pans, sheets, pillows, blankets, towels, mattress pad, pillowcases etc.)
9. After you are living in your own place with your name on the lease and you find that transportation is a barrier in getting to work, we can help qualified individuals by providing a used vehicle.
This is all done through our Working Cars for Working People program and on that page of our website you can read the requirements for this program.
10. Lastly, we provide help in a variety of other ways including (to qualifying individuals) back rent, car repairs, utilities, eyeglasses, phone bills, bicycles, car notes, car insurance, cable bills, bus passes, gasoline cards, food assistance, work tools/equipment, computers for work or school, professional test taking fees, etc.
We work with returning citizens from the day they are released from prison and we maintain a very personal relationship at every step of the way as he/she moves forward on his or her path to success.
And we remain in close contact at all times for any means of assistance we can provide when an emergency situation arises.
Please note Here to Help assists those returning from a Michigan prison and living in either Wayne or Oakland County only. This program is for those coming back from prison (not jail) and those having been out for less than a year (though there are exceptions for how long one has been in prison).
If you are a returning citizen and in need of assistance through our program, then simply click here to apply:
INITIAL APPLICATION
If you have any questions just email Bob Schwartz at heretohelpfoundation@icloud.com
This program results in wonderful stories of accomplishment and many of these stories can be found on our FACEBOOK PAGE.
We also are able to offer additional assistance including paying for job certification expenses, offering financial literacy help and mentoring and support groups, and engaging as a referral source for other organizations that assist returning citizens with record expungement, mental health care etc.
PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE HELPING SO MANY RETURNING CITIZENS THAT WE MUST ADHERE TO THE FOLLOWING POLICY:
IF WE WERE HELPING YOU AND YOU THEN VIOLATED PAROLE OR WERE SENT BACK TO PRISON FOR ANY REASON (OR TO JAIL), WE WILL LIKELY BE PROHIBITED FROM CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU.