NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

 

 

Summer 2004

A Message from the Director

Those of us in the community who provide reentry services to persons being released from jails and prisons spend an extraordinary amount of our time searching for appropriate housing for our clients who are either homeless or living in unstable situations.  Last fiscal year, 31% of our clients were  homeless prior to their incarceration or upon their release from incarceration.  We have known for years that recidivism, a return to incarceration, is a likely outcome for an ex-offender who is homeless.  How can someone become a stable and productive member of our community when he or she lives “on the streets” or is continually dependent on emergency shelter?

Although there are no national studies identifying the number of homeless ex-offenders who are re-incarcerated, some states and cities have begun the process of more clearly identifying their homeless populations and attempting to determine the effect of homelessness on recidivism. 

Homeward, Richmond’s Regional Response to Homelessness, recently released the results of its January 21, 2004, Point-In-Time Survey of the known homeless population in our area.  The survey results provide a detailed breakdown of the homeless population in our community.  Among other significant results, the survey reveals that 62% of our homeless population, men and women, have served some time in jail and/or prison; three out of four single men who are homeless have been incarcerated at some point in their lives.

To get a copy of the survey, call Homeward at 225-7909.

 OAR staff work with homeless ex-offenders daily.  We hear the frustration and hopelessness in their voices when they are employed full-time, but are still unable to afford a “home”.  They want privacy, a bed, a bathroom, and a kitchen.  They want to be able to go “home” after a day’s work and not be concerned that their room has been broken into or that the boarding house they live in has been condemned.  They want stability.  I doubt their wants are any different from yours or mine.

Isn’t it time for a reality check in our community?  Where is the affordable housing for low-income workers?  What housing barriers face persons with a criminal record?  What occupational barriers face persons with a criminal record?  Is on-the-job or skills development training free and easily accessible to low-income and unskilled workers?  What will your response be if affordable housing such as a single room occupancy facility is proposed for your neighborhood?

I invite you to come to our Central Office and spend time talking with some of our clients about their struggle to stabilize their lives and develop social and emotional bonds in the community.  Most of them want to live in a safe community just like the rest of us, but they frequently feel they are not a part of the community; instead they are survivors living a day to day existence without a place to call “home”.

Doesn’t everyone deserve a place to call “home”?  If your answer is yes, then what can you do to make that a reality?

Barbara A. Slayden

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“There is no greater joy nor greater reward than to make a fundamental difference in someone’s life.”

                                    …Sister Mary Rose McGeady

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Volunteer News

Since July 2003, 72 volunteers have provided 2,665 hours of direct service to 645 clients at five service locations; 20 other volunteers have provided 318 hours of service to the organization.

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Welcome to the following new volunteers….

Larry L., Deanna Lindsey, Suzanne M.,  Kate Olenyik, Bill S., and Rachel Sinex.

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Get to Know an OAR Volunteer….

Deanna Lindsey, a new OAR volunteer, teaches Anger Management at Richmond City Jail. She became interested in volunteering because of a role model she had who felt that it was important to help people who "did not start at the starting line".

Deanna completed a Master’s in Sociology at Marshall University while working as a probation officer in West Virginia.  After relocating to Richmond to work as a Claims Investigator for Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen, she discovered OAR and became interested in volunteering.

When Deanna is not volunteering or working, she is a part-time faculty member at Strayer University and is also pursuing her Ph.D. in Criminal Justice Administration.  Deanna believes her volunteer work at OAR is the best way for her to use her knowledge and experience and hopes to one day pursue research in offender rehabilitation.

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Volunteer Your Time, Experience, & Talent

• Fathers, mothers, or married couples to teach Fatherhood or Motherhood classes for youthful offenders

• Reentry life coaches for youthful offender program
• Chess players to teach classes for clients
• Handyman/woman to assist with small repairs at OAR’s Central Office location
• GED and ABE tutors
• Someone to collect used Webster’s Collegiate dictionaries for GED students

If you would like to discuss volunteering with OAR,  contact Jessica Hacker at 643-2746.  

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Staff News

We welcome the following additions to our staff: Barbara Blankenship, Alethia Watford, and Jerena Bailey.  Barbara was hired as our Special Projects Developer, a new position responsible for researching and implementing income-generating projects for the organization.  Alethia replaced Ethel White as case manager at Richmond City Jail.  Mrs. White resigned after 19 years with OAR to accept a position with the jail.  Jerena is the case manager in our new Youthful Offender Reentry Program.  Lenny Recupero will be joining OAR as our Associate Director in early July.  Lenny and his family are relocating to Richmond from New Jersey.

 

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Client News--A Success Story

Ms. B. was released from the Petersburg City Jail in May, 2001, and ordered to live at the Women’s Diversion Center.  As soon as she was allowed to begin her search for employment, she came to OAR for services.  She quickly found employment in nursing care and requested OAR’s help with a uniform, shoes, and bus tickets for transportation.

Since June, 2001, Ms. B. has maintained her sobriety and steady employment as a nursing assistant while attending school to become a LPN.  On June 17, Ms. B. received a check for $300 from OAR for her 3-year job retention incentive. 

She has one semester left before she receives her nursing certification, maintains a 2-bedroom home, and has a savings account.  Ms. B.’s success story is filled with hard work, the desire to rebuild her life, and a little helping hand from OAR.

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Thank You To…

Bob & Jan DeLaney, Jessica Hacker, Anne Jones, C. Robin Jones, Bob King, Chris Konschak, Patricia Markey, Solon Mitchell, Jr., Suzanne Munson, Amanda Noyes, Janis Pritchard, Carol-Lee Raimo, Karen Redford, Barbara Slayden, Chantel

Tyler, and James Willett for Ukrop's Golden Gift certificates;

Penelope Anderson, Donna Banks, Vanessa Barber, Gabrielle Wade Beck, Dennis Brown, Patricia Burrell, Nichole Carter, Ihsani Deavers, Calvin Debose, Gilbert Elamin, James Ericson, Beverly Stith Gibbs, Christine Gibson, Donald Gray, Kay Gray, Sidney Gray, Deborah Hamlin, Loretta Jackson, Mark James, Reggie Jones, David Klisz, William Massello, Steven Oakes, William Riley, David Schottel, Shirley Scott, Krystal Simpson, Barbara Slayden, Linda Szwabowski, John Wade, Nancy Wallace, Gwendolyn West, Ethel White, and Stewart White who made a contribution to OAR during the last United Way campaign; Jessica Aber, Samuel Brumberg, Katie Campbell, Cassandra Cranney, Gwynne Cunningham, Barry Green, Kathryn Hafford, Julie Johnson, Jim Myers, John Myers, Randy Myers, Shady Myers, Laura Nagy, Carla Taylor, Chris Walsh, and Susie White who designated a contribution to OAR for the 2004 Wachovia Securities canalWALK; Frank Adams, Charles Adcock, Altria Employee Involvement Program, Bob Barker Company, Johanna Beers, Consumer Action, Inc., H. Jean James, Thomas Knaut, Richard Massey, Lewis Parker, John Rice, Trey Simpson, Patricia Walton, Major Wright, and Gray Wyatt who donated gift certificates, money, or other items to OAR during the last quarter. 

 

 

 

 

 

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 Stay Tuned for Exciting

News from OAR this Fall!