Shelter is a basic need and an important one. Having a place to call home is vital to helping our clients maintain a sense of stability and restoring their hope for the future. Our Case Managers review each client’s risk for housing insecurity as part of our intake process. This helps us build a case plan that includes working with our onsite housing partners for those who need it. Like the criminal justice system, homelessness is a complex issue. We’re proud to have partners in our community working together to end homelessness for everyone, including those with criminal justice involvement, like our clients.

Finding employment while involved with the justice system can be an uphill battle. Many clients need stable employment as a requirement while on probation. Having a steady job can help limit additional involvement with the justice system. Our case managers work with local non-profits to provide options for our clients to that they can continue to pay bills and rent. Employment also helps them stay in compliance with paying fines, fees and paying to attend court appointed classes.

A justice navigator assists a client with maintaining compliance with pre-trial and/or probation criminal justice involvement. This includes pre-trial bond compliance, court reminders, payment plans, rule 8 referrals, assisting with court ordered conditions, advocating in court, guidance to the appropriate treatment court programs, connecting to pre-trial bond/release programs, warrant assistance, facilitating with public defender applications, and any other justice needs that arise.

With the help of our onsite partners, we provide referrals for mental health treatment, family services, behavioral health treatment and counseling services that fit each client’s specific needs. Our partners also help provide onsite peer support groups with a variety of focus areas. We prioritize providing trauma-informed care that emphasizes building trust and ensuring the safety of each client. At every level, mental health plays a big part in helping our clients gain stability so that they can focus on working to achieve their goals.

Our case managers see how substance abuse can have long term impacts on a client’s life and work to reduce dependency for our clients. By working with local partners, we are able to provide services to clients that may need specialized guidance and support in learning to overcome any dependency they may have.

Getting access to something as simple as a state ID opens doors for housing, employment and other government benefits for our clients to move on to live a productive life. We work closely with state agencies to connect clients to health insurance, SNAP, TANF or other benefits a client may need to support their family and get back on their feet. Many of these services are offered onsite, lowering the barriers of having to visit multiple agencies or offices to complete forms and making it easier for our clients to succeed.