Stretch

?? Access to Reliable Transportation: A Critical Step in Reentry ?? One common theme we see among the people we serve—97% of whom were formerly incarcerated and opened their financial accounts with their state prison IDs—is the challenge of purchasing vehicles in cash from auto dealerships. For many, the cost of a reliable vehicle is simply out of reach, creating a significant barrier to successful reentry. We know that having access to affordable, reliable transportation is crucial for finding and maintaining employment, accessing essential services, and rebuilding one's life. Yet, too many of the hundreds of thousands of people returning from prison each year find themselves priced out of this critical step. We believe more of the hundreds of millions invested in reentry programs should be directed toward making reliable auto ownership a reality. Organizations like On the Road Lending, Vehicles for Change, and others are doing important work in this space, but there's still much more we can do to address these challenges and ensure everyone has the opportunity to fully participate in our communities. #Reentry #FinancialInclusion #SecondChances #SocialImpact #Transportation #OnTheRoadLending #AffordableTransportation

The Colorado Department of Corrections does a wonderful job of publishing a wide variety of data, such as recidivism statistics. With clear data like this, you can design reentry initiatives with clear objectives that can be evaluated and measured. View all their data at: https://lnkd.in/gvNaYQUG #reentry #data

How a person spends and earns gives insight into their #reentry.?Let's see what we can learn from real account data. ?? ?? Account Opening 4/26/2023 - the person opens an account online using their prison ID card. ?? Finding Employment 6/20/23 - a direct deposit payment from an employer is detected. Employer payments occur weekly in non-regular amounts. The person earned an average of $1,024.01 weekly until they changed jobs in October 2023, when direct deposits from the previous employer stopped, and payments from a new employer began. This person started working for a company installing traffic signs and then began working at a barber shop. ?? Investing in Oral Health 8/17/23 - a large payment for dental care is detected. These continue in smaller amounts through September, October, and November. It's well known that formerly incarcerated people experience dental issues. Getting teeth fixed upon release can boost health and confidence. ?? Finding a Home 10/7/23 - A payment for a rental application was detected, and on 12/4/23, rental payments of $1,009.99 began. We estimate that the person spends 25.2% of their income on housing. ?? Getting a Car 11/8/23 - A payment to a notary was detected, followed by a payment to an insurance company on 11/16/23. These transactions can signal that the person has acquired a vehicle. Before these transactions, we observed several bus line transactions, which stopped in November. Anonymized data insights help with storytelling to support financial aid programs. Visit www.stretch.money or email [email protected] to discuss how we can build data insights for your financial aid programs!

Government agencies running financial aid programs can use real-time spending data to engage individuals proactively through in-app messages that boost awareness of other government and philanthropic services. ?? What can you learn from a single transaction? Check out this transaction. ?? Merchant Name: 360 Training Merchant Category: Business Secretarial Schools Merchant Category Code: 8244 Merchant ID: 446024158995 Here, we see a person using financial aid to invest in their marketable skills through a popular business training and certification service for various trades and industries. ?? What might you say to them? First, ensure they know about other free skill-building programs like those provided by Goodwill Industries International. Second, ensure they know about services that make finding a job easier, such as Honest Jobs, the nation's leading job marketplace for people affected by the criminal justice system. Learn more by reading the full article online at https://lnkd.in/g_qT63z8

?? Important Win for Returning Citizens in California by CEO and partners ?? We're thrilled to see this policy win that marks a progressive step in supporting individuals transitioning from incarceration. This win in California emphasizes the importance of reintegrating individuals into society with dignity, services, and financial support. Congratulations to the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) and their team led by Samuel Schaeffer and partners such as Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) for their unwavering dedication and hard work in this field. Their efforts have been instrumental in shaping policies that make a difference in the lives of many. This achievement inspires us, and we are hopeful to see similar initiatives being adopted across all 50 states. Such policies aid in an individual's reentry and contribute to building stronger communities. Let's continue to advocate for innovative approaches nationwide! https://lnkd.in/gXsq8USd #reentry

People should leave prison with a reentry card, not a “release” card. #reentry #corrections #parole #fintech #criminaljusticereform #prison