On Wednesday, March 1st, Senator Marie Pinkney invited Project New Start to participate on a panel regarding housing barriers faced by justice-involved individuals at the 2nd Annual "State of the State of Corrections" Summit at the Route 9 Library & Innovation Center.
There were four panel discussions: Inequities in Health Care, Barriers to Housing, Re-entry Workforce: Challenges & Opportunities, and "Shut Up And Listen."
Four of our graduates spoke on panels, including Charles Tuller '22, Charles Cobb '22, Orlando Foreman '18, and Tanika Lewis '19, sharing their insights regarding the challenges of navigating reeentry and how Project New Start has helped them through this process by providing workforce development training, job placement, housing and transportation assistance, and individualized intensive support.
Tanika Lewis '19 participated on the Healthcare Panel and discussed the challenges of receiving proper physical and mental health care both while incarcerated and once she transitioned back to the community.
Additionally, our Founder and Executive Director, Priscilla Turgon, discussed the critical need for housing assistance once individuals transition from incarceration to their families, employment, and communities. Approximately 85% of the individuals served by PNS are housing insecure and require intensive support to enable a successful transition to self-sufficiency and resistance from future criminal behavior.
Following the summit, Senator Pinkney hosted a brief press conference to announce the filing of Senate Bill 4, which will transform Delaware's system of probation. Join us in advocating for this critical legislation so we can send it to Governor John Carney's desk this year.