WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to strengthen communities and help formerly incarcerated women who served their time successfully reenter society, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo today announced that OpenDoors Rhode Island has been awarded $714,958 in federal funds through the Department of Justice (DOJ) Second Chance Act Community-based Reentry Program.

The three-year federal grant will help OpenDoors provide services to help former inmates successfully transition from prison to a productive life in the community.  OpenDoors offers specialized reentry support to help returning citizens with basic services, such as education, housing, transportation, addiction recovery, and more.

“Supportive reentry works, but there is no one size fits all system.  OpenDoors helps Rhode Islanders newly released from prison with a range of services tailored to their needs.  It offers avenues of hope for a healthier, more productive life and a safer community.  OpenDoors will use this funding to give more women a second chance, help them effectively navigate the reentry process, and break the cycle of recidivism,” said Senator Reed. 

“OpenDoors Rhode Island does excellent work helping people who have paid their time successfully reenter the community,” said Whitehouse, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and former Rhode Island Attorney General.  “This federal funding will be used to reduce crime by providing formerly incarcerated women the specific support they need to get their lives back on track and return as productive members of society.”

“Reentry programs are key to helping formerly incarcerated individuals find a career and rebuild their lives,” said Rep. Seth Magaziner. “This federal funding will help OpenDoors provide Rhode Islanders with the necessary skills and training to successfully reenter the workforce, contribute to the local economy and have a second chance at life.” 

“To break the destructive cycles of incarceration and poverty, it’s essential that we help individuals going through the reentry process so that they can thrive as productive members of our Rhode Island community,” said Congressman Amo. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in announcing federal funding for OpenDoors Rhode Island to provide a helping hand for those striving toward a better future.”

“OpenDoors knows that when we invest in women instead of prisons, we will make our communities stronger and safer. The women and children in our transitional houses are struggling with so many obstacles that aren't addressed by prisons. Our programs give them the second chance they need to keep their families together and get on the right track,” said OpenDoors Deputy Director, Dina Bruce.  “This grant will allow us to help so many more women and families that are trapped in the cycle of incarceration.”

In 2008, Senators Reed and Whitehouse helped pass the Second Chance Act (P.L. 110-199), legislation that helped strengthen programs that assist with successful reentry from prison or jail back into the community.  Reed and Whitehouse also helped to reauthorize the law in 2018 to ensure continued access to grant opportunities for initiatives like community-based reentry programs.

Each year, around two million women are released from incarceration across the country, according to the DOJ. Formerly incarcerated individuals face barriers to reentry, including limited access to opportunities for employment, education, and housing; however, women often face additional barriers such as and prior histories of experiencing domestic violence or need for childcare or parenting support. Specialized reentry programs for justice-involved women therefore must take into account the unique factors and challenges these individuals face after being released from prison or jail.

For the last two decades, OpenDoors has been dedicated to supporting formerly incarcerated Rhode Islanders.  OpenDoors’ reentry programs use a holistic approach to support people as they prepare to leave prison, return home, and stabilize in their communities. The agency's programs include policy and advocacy work around criminal justice issues, a one-stop Resource Center, transitional and permanent housing programs, congregate shelters, and its Employment Program. OpenDoors programs seek to promote economic self-sufficiency by improving job-readiness, addressing barriers to employment and housing, and supporting addiction recovery.