Balance to Restore Justice
An exploding prison population is a concern not only for the criminal justice system, but, also for the communities where ex-offenders live after their release. Branded with the stigma of incarceration, ex-offenders struggle to find housing jobs and acceptance. Half of the ex-offenders released from prison in Illinois are located on the West Side of Chicago.
At least 30,000 or more children have previously experienced or are currently living through often debilitating emotional, economic, and social consequences stemming from the arrest, detention and/or imprisonment of a parent. Home of Life Community Development Corporation (HLCDC) seeks to mitigate these negative effects by assisting individuals and families whose lives are roiled by incarceration. We will advocate on their behalf, promoting innovative programs that demonstrate that over-reliance on imprisonment is a costly and counterproductive approach that fails to recognize or support the basic capacity of people to transform their lives.
The President of HLCDC is promoting independent living for ex-offenders. It means taking risks and being allowed to succeed and fail on your own terms. It means participating in community life and pursuing activities of your own choosing. Independent living is knowing what choices are available, selecting what is right for you, and taking responsibility for your own actions.
For people with disabilities affecting their ability to make complicated decisions or pursue complex activities, independent living means being as self-sufficient as possible. It means being able to exercise the greatest degree of choice in where you live, with whom you live, how to live, where you work, with whom you work and how to use your time.
For many years ex-offender strategies have been based largely on theoretical or ideological assumptions about “what works,” in the absence of objective, scientific evidence. Indeed, so many ill-conceived strategies were so often found to be ineffective, that many ex-offender prevention critics popularized the cynical view that “nothing works,” such a pessimistic view is no longer tenable.
The mission of the ex-offender program is to serve the welfare of young teens and adults and their families within a sound frame work of public safety. HLCDC and its partners are committed to providing the guidance, structure and services needed by every ex-offender under our supervision.
Through the partnership of the Circuit Court of Chicago and the 11th District Police, we are able to:
1. Identify the needs of offenders regarding education, employment, parenting, job training and social skills:
2. Link offenders with caring and supportive adults capable of meeting those needs:
3. Offer the courts additional sanctions to deal more effectively with the issues of drugs and violence.
4. Teach offenders about the life-long consequences of violent and dangerous actions, instill a sense of empathy between offenders and those who have suffered the effects of violence.
5. Demonstrate the need for alternatives to violent or criminal behaviors, provide support and recognition to victims and their families and educate the community on the debilitating effects of violence
HLCDC is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization, founded in 1991 and incorporated in 1993. Our mission is to aid the development of the holistic person by providing supportive services designed to enhance the physical, mental, spiritual, nutritional, social and educational well-being of families. The services provided will improve the quality of life in the community and promote healthier and happier individuals.
I thank you in advance for reviewing our request/supporting literature and anxiously look forward to establishing an ongoing collaboration with you.
Warmest Regards,
Arthur Henderson
Begin making a difference and call 773-626-8655
info@homeoflife.org