CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Cook County’s Road Home Program — officially known as the Re-Entry Navigation Initiative — is getting a $450,000 boost thanks to federal recovery funds.
County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said the service area of the program, which provides occupational training and job placement for people who were formerly incarcerated, is being expanded to include places like Chicago Heights, Calumet City, Harvey, Dixmoor and Dalton. It also will include those who are already home.
“For many, challenges associated with re-entry and the risk of recidivism [are] significant,” said Preckwinkle. “That risk is amplified when returning residents are not supported or when there is a lack of opportunities for income and success.”
Gia Davis owns a number of small businesses that hire returning citizens through that program.
“By giving returning residents employment that could potentially lead to career opportunities, a second-chance employer is directly contributing to the redirection of a person’s past and the growth for their future,” Davis said.
The City of Chicago, meanwhile, has launched a new website focused on job training, support centers and more for what it calls “returning citizens.” The re-entry resource hub can be found online here.
The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership is involved with this effort.
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