Programs · Pillar 5

Building Bridges to Success.

Second chances are real here. We walk with individuals returning from incarceration through every step of reintegration — employment, housing, counseling, and belonging.

What we do

A pathway, not just a hand-off.

Our Re-Entry Services pillar is built on the belief that people deserve real second chances — and that means more than just a referral sheet. We provide comprehensive, wraparound support to individuals with justice involvement as they reintegrate into their communities and rebuild their lives.

  • Job readiness training and career coaching
  • Job placement and employer partnerships
  • Housing navigation and support
  • Individual counseling and case management
  • Mentorship from people with lived experience
  • Connection to community resources and referrals
Who runs it

People who understand what returning home actually means.

Our re-entry team includes case managers, counselors, and mentors — many with lived experience of the justice system. They understand the real barriers returning citizens face and work to dismantle them one by one.

Partners

Who we work with.

  • Legal Aid Society (LAS)
  • Local housing and social service providers
  • Employer partners committed to fair chance hiring
  • New Beginnings Church of Chicago
Real Stories

The Rebirth Project: second chances, built two weeks at a time.

More than 60% of formerly incarcerated people are still unemployed a year after release. Our graduates are beating those odds.

This year we celebrated our 3rd Re-Entry Cohort completing the Rebirth Project — a two-week immersive covering job skills, résumé building, workplace ethics, financial literacy, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, and communication. At the finish, we hosted a job fair connecting graduates directly with employers eager to offer a real second chance.

"When I came home, I didn't know where to start. Project H.O.O.D. helped me find a job, find a place to stay, and find myself again."
— Re-entry participant

Ready to take the first step?