BETHEL NEW LIFE, INC. - WELCOME HOME CAMPAIGN (IL)

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Program Description
Bethel New Life (BNL) was founded in 1979 by constituents of Bethel Lutheran Church when concerned community members saw a need to have safe and affordable housing for their community.Out of its initial focus on housing development, BNL expanded to concentrate on economic development, family support services, and community organizing. Today, BNL's community-based programs employ 340 individuals and have a budget of $10 million.

BNL's target population consists of Chicago's underprivileged West Side communities, such as West Garfield Park and Austin. Over the years, BNL's programs have received national recognition and have expanded to serve special needs populations such as the elderly and at-risk families. For example, Bethel's Supportive Housing initiative provides safe and stable environments for homeless and at-risk families to help them transition to being self-sufficiency.

With over 4,000 former prisoners being released into Bethel's West Side Chicago community each year, BNL began an initiative in July 2002 to reduce recidivism and to support the reentry of individuals who were formerly incarcerated back to several communities. BNL recognized that these individuals face multiple barriers upon reentry (such as personal obstacles, lack of job experience, and stigma) and thus initiated its "Welcome Home" campaign. The campaign has a three-pronged approach:

• Doing More, Better. BNL is working to improve and expand its current programs for employment, housing, and outreach in view of the fact that 50 percent of its supportive housing residents are former prisoners. Specifically, BNL is determined to identify individuals (with non-violent offenses) before they are released to connect them with employment, residential services, and other social services.
• Welcoming Campaign. The movement educates and communicates with faith-based institutions, businesses, and other organizations to help former prisoners find employment (internships, full-time, and part-time employment), implement a network of support, conduct sermons that address reentry to raise awareness, and hold community discussions on reentry.
• Advocacy. The campaign advocates for the rights of individuals who were formerly incarcerated in the community and beyond.

Program Goals
To reduce recidivism, Bethel New Life's Welcome Home initiative strives to give former prisoners the skills and supportive services they need to transition successfully back into the community.

Networking, Partnering & Collaboration
Welcome Home collaborates with Safer Foundation, St. Leonard's House, and the Salvation Army.

Outcomes
No evaluation has been conducted on the program to date.

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