Being released from prison into the community, especially following a long sentence, can be overwhelming. Time and technology have moved on, communities have changed, and children have grown up.
The April 26 Community Resource Fair for justice-involved individuals was brimming with people and more than fifty community organizations in addition to Husky Health and Community College State representatives who offer a range of services and programs for formerly incarcerated individuals.
With an average of 200 people released to the Greater Hartford area at the end of their sentences and hundreds more returning on community supervision each month, there is a real need for help navigating all the things many of us take for granted, like finding a place to live and a decent paying job, accessing health services, education and so much more.
Providers included employers like Valvoline, Laz, staffing agencies, the American Job Center, a wide range of health care resources including Husky, and behavioral health including Yale, Trinity, and a range of basic needs. The event was organized by members of the Greater Hartford Reentry Council.
The Hartford Reentry Welcome Center was founded in 2018 at City Hall in Hartford and has been operated by Community Partners in Action ever since, with the primary goal of giving formerly incarcerated individuals a second chance and a way to achieve self-sufficiency. The center moved to an expanded location in 2022 and officially cut the ribbon on its 716 Windsor Street, Hartford location in July 2022.
To learn more about the Greater Hartford Welcome Center contact Sue Gunderman, Program Operations Director, sgunderman@cpa-ct.org.