Neighbors in northern Arden-Arcade say this week brought a surprise they never saw coming: a nonprofit quietly bought a house on Norris Avenue and now plans to turn it into transitional housing for people recently released from prison, not far from two elementary schools. Several residents say they were never notified ahead of time and want clear, detailed information about who will live there and how the program will be supervised.
As reported by CBS Sacramento, the nonprofit Inside Circle purchased the Norris Avenue property and plans to open the home in September for people already enrolled in its rehabilitation program. Neighbors told the station they felt blindsided. “It's like a bomb was dropped on us,” Brian Rice said in the report. Inside Circle told CBS Sacramento the residence will be staffed around the clock by two employees, and that participants typically stay about six months before moving on to permanent housing.
Inside Circle's pitch and track record
According to Inside Circle, the organization runs healing-circle programs inside prisons and operates bridging programs intended to support people as they return to the community. The group’s website points to reductions in security levels for participants and low rates of return to prison within three years of release, arguments its leaders say support offering tightly structured transitional housing after people get out.
Schools, officials and next steps
The San Juan Unified School District told CBS Sacramento it was only just learning about the proposal and has started reaching out for more information. Inside Circle says it has already had some conversations with nearby residents since buying the property and expects to host a broader community meeting before the home opens.
For now, neighbors say they plan to watch for that community meeting and for concrete details about supervision, resident selection and oversight. With a September opening on the horizon, the next few weeks will likely determine whether the project gains local support or faces stronger pushback.
