Changing Programs, Changing Lives

One of the best parts of my position is being able to interact with such a wide variety of people from across the state.

As discharge planning picks up steam both nationally and here in Minnesota, I have been able to take an active role on two projects. One is organizing an ex-offender housing subcommittee through the Central Minnesota Continuum of Care (CoC), and the other is helping craft discharge planning resources for the Washington County Jail.

Next week will usher in the first meeting of the ex-offender housing subcommittee. Leading up to this, I organized two representatives in the transitions department from Minnesota Department of Corrections at Lino Lakes to come talk with the Central CoC about re-entry planning for inmates. Together we identified the lack of affordable, transitional, and permanent housing available to exoffenders.

The current goals of the subcommittee are to increase the amount of housing available, and to assess the need for housing and other resources region-wide. We will be assembling a list of the existing resources to show us where services currently exist, and this will help us identify other gaps.

In Washington County I organized a housing session for interested inmates at the Washington County Jail, presented by Tina Bayonet, Housing Coordinator for the county. We solicited questions beforehand, and had eight attendees. Tina provided information on tenant rights and responsibilities, evictions, and housing options. Two of the eight attendees said they would not have housing upon release. One of those has since followed up with Tina. We’re making it a
monthly event. I am also putting together a resource guide for people preparing for re-entry to help them find services and meet their needs.

These are two rather simple projects that will be influential in helping ex-offenders in rural and urban areas successfully re-enter society to the benefit of themselves, their families and their neighborhoods.

Think about how you can be involved in helping people transition from institutions. Maybe you could volunteer to teach budgeting at a county jail? Maybe you could be a mentor to a youth who has aged out of foster care? The possibilities are endless.

For more information, contact Kristin Titcombe.