Returning home after incarceration can be both exciting and overwhelming. Whether you’ve just come home or are supporting someone on their journey, this guide offers practical steps, encouragement, and resources to help you navigate reentry with confidence.
Step 1: Secure Basic Needs First
The first days and weeks after release are crucial. Prioritizing essentials builds the foundation for stability.
Housing: Safe and stable housing is non-negotiable. Whether it’s transitional housing, a family home, or a halfway house, having a place to rest and feel secure is step one.
Identification: Reentry often requires obtaining or renewing IDs, social security cards, or driver’s licenses. These documents are necessary for employment, healthcare, and many support services.
Food & Clothing: Community programs, food pantries, and reentry centers often provide meals, clothing, and hygiene products to help individuals feel human and cared for.
Step 2: Rebuild Support Networks
No one succeeds alone. Reentry is about reconnecting with positive influences while distancing from toxic environments.
Family & Friends: Reestablish relationships where trust and communication are possible. It may take time, but healthy connections are worth rebuilding.
Mentorship & Peer Support: Surrounding oneself with mentors or peers who’ve walked the same road can provide encouragement, advice, and accountability.
Faith Communities & Groups: For many, spiritual connection brings strength and healing. Local churches and groups often welcome returning citizens with open arms.
"The CJ Park Foundation is committed to building safer communities by empowering those returning from incarceration and those impacted by violence to transform their lives.” – CJ Park
Step 3: Focus on Employment & Skills Development
Employment is often seen as the biggest hurdle—and the greatest breakthrough—in the reentry process.
Resume Help & Job Readiness: Organizations like CJ Park offer job training, interview coaching, and resume development tailored for returning citizens.
Fair-Chance Employers: Many businesses are open to hiring those with a record. Seeking employers that support second chances can boost confidence and success.
Skill Building: Whether through community college, online courses, or vocational training, building or upgrading skills opens new doors for opportunity.
