In a move to support women returning from incarceration, Mayor Brandon Johnson, along with Joseph Mapp from the Mayor’s Office of Reentry and DFSS Commissioner Angela Green, announced the opening of Chicago's first community reentry support center specifically designed for women. The facility is part of a broader initiative to build a safer Chicago through holistic, trauma-informed services provided at the Reclamation Center located at 2150 S. Canalport Ave.
Mayor Johnson highlighted the importance of this new center, saying, "When our mothers and sisters have the opportunity to heal and find stability, our entire city thrives." This statement, obtained from Chicago's official website, underscores the city's commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by justice-impacted women. The center will offer food and housing assistance, employment assistance, education and training, support groups, and more, recognizing that about 75% of these women have experienced domestic violence, and over 60% are mothers to children under age 18.
The Women's Justice Institute, known for its work in ending mass incarceration of women and developing leadership among formerly incarcerated women, has been awarded the operating contract for the community reentry support center (CRSC). "Nowhere in the nation is a major city centering women with lived experience in justice transformation work like the Chicago Women’s CRSC," said Deanne Benos, Executive Director and Co-founder of the Women's Justice Institute, as she commended Chicago for this historic initiative in a statement reported by the city's website.
The CRSCs are part of Mayor Johnson’s People’s Plan for Community Safety, aiming to facilitate community healing and offer opportunities for those affected by systemic harm. Green supports this perspective, "We are proud to be leading the change within community reentry services to meet what we know are distinctive challenges faced by women returning from incarceration," she told Chicago's official website. Other CRSC zones across the city will continue to serve all individuals returning from incarceration, assisting them in various matters, including legal services for sealing or expunging criminal records.
Four additional delegate agencies have been announced for the 2026 CRSC operating contracts. These include Howard Evanston Community Center in Zone 1, UCAN in Zones 2 and 4, and Teamwork Englewood in Zone 3. With the establishment of the Women’s CRSC, Mayor Johnson's administration takes another step toward an inclusive city equipped to foster reentry and recovery in a way that respects the experiences of its citizens.
