Every year, hundreds of thousands of individuals are released from prisons and jails across the United States, embarking on the challenging journey of reintegration into society. These returning citizens often face significant hurdles, particularly financial instability. Lacking resources, they struggle to secure basic necessities like food, housing, and clothing, alongside the complexities of obtaining identification, healthcare, and employment. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated these difficulties, potentially excluding them from federal relief funds due to unstable work histories.
Recognizing these immense challenges, the Returning Citizens Stimulus (RCS) program emerged to provide crucial financial support. This initiative offers up to $2,750 in cash assistance to individuals recently released from incarceration who were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Spearheaded by the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), the RCS program has disbursed payments to over 10,000 individuals across 28 cities since April 2020. Key focus areas include major urban centers such as New York City, Los Angeles, Oakland, Detroit, New Orleans, and Tulsa.
The RCS program directly addresses the deep-rooted racial disparities within the criminal justice system. Black and Latino Americans are disproportionately incarcerated, and upon release, face compounded disadvantages. During the pandemic’s economic downturn, the RCS provided essential resources to these individuals at a critical juncture in their reentry process.
Utilizing CEO’s established pay card system and a network of local reentry service providers, the RCS is backed by a significant $23+ million investment from the Justice and Mobility Fund. This fund is a collaborative effort between The Ford Foundation and Blue Meridian Partners, with support from the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation.
The RCS program delivers three contactless “stimulus” payments, offering immediate financial relief while connecting individuals with vital reentry support services. This holistic approach aims to empower returning citizens to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to their communities.
Since its inception in April 2020, the CEO has successfully distributed these crucial payments to over 10,000 individuals across 28 cities, with a concentrated effort in New York City, Los Angeles, Oakland, Detroit, New Orleans, and Tulsa.
