It’s no surprise that the majority of women released from incarceration return home with almost nothing and are immediately hit with systemic barriers upon reentry.

Maria* was one of those women. She only had a plastic tote and a $45 gate check. No ID. No phone. She was given a second chance, but no one was waiting to bring her home. From the beginning, her reentry seemed anything but hopeful. But because of supporters like you, Maria didn’t have to figure out her first night alone. She had safe and supportive housing to welcome her, and instead of feeling set up to fail, she began to feel hopeful. Nearly all women in the NC prison system will return to our community, women like Maria. Today, she’s employed, stable, reunited with her children, and planning her next steps — because she first had a helping hand. Will you help ensure the next woman has the same chance? Housing is one of the most significant predictors of whether a woman rebuilds her life or reenters crisis. Formerly incarcerated women are 10 times more likely to be homeless than the general population. Housing is the number one barrier, and women are at the highest risk of homelessness. Direct access to housing is tied to public safety, family stability, and long-term economic mobility, as well as for women reintegrating into our community. It is imperative. Your support makes it possible for women, like Maria, to receive the necessary support upon reentry: --Safe transitional housing through the Women’s Reentry Project --Daily case management, peer support, and trauma-informed services --Transportation to medical, mental health, and recovery appointments --A structured path toward employment, education, and family reunification And here’s what that means for our community: --70% of women in our program secured or maintained employment last year --Mothers reunited safely with their children --Workplaces gained dependable employees --Families began breaking cycles of incarceration Will you help welcome the next woman home? https://arise-collective.org/woven-together *Names and images are altered to protect the privacy of the women we serve.