Today, the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) in Chicago launched the SPRING Forward Program. Designed to support formerly incarcerated individuals in reentering their communities, the program provides critical resources such as housing and employment, per the City of Chicago.
Mayor Brandon Johnson, boldly emphasized the significance of the program, saying, “Reducing recidivism rates is a meaningful step towards creating an alternative vision of community safety. Providing pathways to returning residents is a critical step in supporting that plan.” This represents a shift in the city's approach towards rehabilitation and reintegration of individuals after incarceration.
The SPRING Forward program brings together several organizations to establish a solid support system. Program Administrators Cara Collective and Lawndale Christian Legal Center partner up with DFSS to provide employment and housing services. The program caters to individuals looking to acclimate to a new and often challenging phase of their lives after release from either the Cook County Department of Corrections or the Illinois Department of Corrections.
According to the program's announcement, eligible applicants, who have been released from incarceration within the last 18 months, are 18 years or older, reside in or are returning to Chicago, and facing housing insecurity. The support provided is extensive, including career coaching, digital literacy, and mental health resources - all integral to forging a stable life post-incarceration.
Kathleen St. Louis Caliento, Cara Collective's President & CEO, stated, "Creating access to gainful employment is a required step for successful reentry of more than 85% of the people we serve."
The executive director of Lawndale Christian Legal Center (LCLC), Cliff Nellis, reflects on a community-based approach to the program, stating, "We are eager to help achieve the goals of SPRING forward as we pursue our community-focused mission." The program's design inspires us to break the ongoing cycle of incarceration and repeat offenses which are an issue in present society.
