180 Degrees | Turning Lives Around
  • About
    • Board of Directors
    • Financials
    • How We Help
    • Leadership
    • Our Stories
  • Youth Shelters
    • Bed Availability
    • Brittany's Place >
      • Transitional Living Program(TLP) >
        • TLP Application
      • Brittany's Place Services
    • Hope House
    • St. Cloud Youth Shelter
    • Von Wald Youth Shelter
    • Foster Care
  • Community Re-Entry
  • Supportive Services
    • All Children Excel
    • SAFE
    • Safe Harbor Navigator: East Metro
  • Engage
    • Employment
    • Events
    • Speaking Engagments
    • Volunteer
  • News
    • 180 Degrees Blog
    • The Turnaround Newsletter
  • Donate
    • Wish List
  • Contact Us
  • About
    • Board of Directors
    • Financials
    • How We Help
    • Leadership
    • Our Stories
  • Youth Shelters
    • Bed Availability
    • Brittany's Place >
      • Transitional Living Program(TLP) >
        • TLP Application
      • Brittany's Place Services
    • Hope House
    • St. Cloud Youth Shelter
    • Von Wald Youth Shelter
    • Foster Care
  • Community Re-Entry
  • Supportive Services
    • All Children Excel
    • SAFE
    • Safe Harbor Navigator: East Metro
  • Engage
    • Employment
    • Events
    • Speaking Engagments
    • Volunteer
  • News
    • 180 Degrees Blog
    • The Turnaround Newsletter
  • Donate
    • Wish List
  • Contact Us

Our Stories

New Program Expands Affordable Housing for Former Inmates

10/26/2020

0 Comments

 
​Men who have served their time in prison face many challenges. Some of the biggest challenges are finding affordable housing and a job within 60 days of being released — or risk violating their parole and having to return to prison.

In May, 180 Degrees launched a new Supportive Housing Program for graduates of its Clifton Place Program — the 37-bed, first-stop residence for men exiting prison. The program is designed to address the barriers men with records face when trying to secure housing.
“We have a high success rate placing Clifton Place residents in jobs,” said Program Director Richard Coffey. "Finding housing for our clients is another story, especially when you need to secure that housing in 60 days.”

In March, as Covid-19 took hold, CEO Dan Pfarr took action, partnering with a nearby landlord to sub-lease, refurbish, and furnish studio apartments close to Clifton Place. By May, four fully furnished studio apartments were available exclusively for Clifton Place graduates.

Transition out of Clifton Place into independent living in the new units has gone smoothly for the first few clients, who pay $950/month, an affordable market rate. The units are located on a bus route, making it accessible to work sites, services, and community appointments. The men are held responsible for the condition of their unit. No drug or alcohol use is allowed.

180 Degrees Housing Coordinator, Stedford “Gino” Nelson works closely with the Clifton Place residents, assisting them in their search for employment, support groups, food shelves, and acquiring necessary work clothing. Gino knows that many residents have never rented their own apartment, and so these studio apartments are an important chance for them to gain a new life experience. Gino encourages residents to start a savings plan so they have funds necessary for the security deposit of their next apartment. Staying at Clifton Apartments offers residents an important foundation, giving them the opportunity to gain positive rental history and a landlord reference for future housing.

In June, Carlos, a graduate of Clifton Place, moved into one of the studio apartments. He's positive about his future, saying, "180 Degrees has been very helpful for me with housing and employment. This program is giving me a stepping stone to learn the responsibility of having bills - real bills - and getting the chance to help myself."
​
180 Degrees looks to expand the supportive housing program in Minneapolis. Leaders are seeking financial support to scale the program in the coming year. If interested, contact Janet.Hallaway@180degrees.org

If you're interested in helping the men in our studio apartments get back on their feet, please consider donating laundry soap, body soap, gift cards for grocery stores, or, if you are an employer who has job opportunities for the men, please contact Stedford “Gino” Nelson at Stedford.Nelson@180degrees.org.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Newsletter:
    ​The Turnaround

    March 2021
    February 2021
    October 2020

    Archives

    August 2022
    April 2022
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020

    Categories

    All
    Affordable Housing
    Criminal Justice
    Formerly Incarcerated
    Foster Care
    Recidivism
    Sex Trafficking
    Youth Homelessness

Picture

​PREA
​Privacy Policy

​Affirmative Action
​Equity Investment

Picture
Picture
© 2021 180 DEGREES, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.​