Blog 10: Important Organization

A topic that is important to me is helping inmates who are just being released get back on their feet. My mother and her friends got together and just opened a half-way house in Tulsa,OK. They take in women who are just getting out of jail and do not have a place to go. Either their families do no want to take them in or they do not have friends or family who are willing to support them. Some of the women just do not want to go back to their origianl homes for fear of going back to their old ways and going back to jail or prison. These women need support groups that many of them do not have. The percentage of women that return back to being locked up is high. Offering them a place to stay and giving them that person who is willing to see nothing but positive things come out of their lives. Not only does certain organizations help get them back on their feet but they give these ladies the encouragement they need to hear in order to succeed in society and not just be looked upon as being a convicted felon.

A New Way of Life Reentry Home, a sober living residence for women with no place to go after they get out of prison. It is ran by Susan Burton, who understands what these women are going through. Susan was incarcerated herself for 12 years during a 20 year journey back and forth to prison 6 times.She has watched 80 women leave and try to get back on their feet. Unlike many halfway houses that reject clients with mental health, drug, and financial problems, Burton does not turn anyone away. As long as a woman is committed to her recovery, Burton will take her in. Since 1980 the number of women entering prisons have increased over 400 percent, doubling the rate of men. This number is outright ridiculous. Federal, state and local governments do little to rehabilitate women in prison, or to assist them in re-entering the community. This is why I feel so strongly behind this subject to be apart of. There are numerous of strong women and men who are incarcerated today that just need that one person or that little bit of help to do great things for their lives. There are a lot of strong women who are capable of doing great thing but just do not have the support group or encouragement that they need. I love the fact how Susan who was once in their shoes decided to give and help someone else turn out great like she did. In the future, I would love to open numerous of rehabilition homes for not only women but men also. I would love to see the rentry rate lowered.