After being released from prison, people who have been incarcerated within the state can get resources from a new Reentry Welcome Center in the City of New Haven.
Project M.O.R.E., Inc, is aimed at helping ex-offenders regain stability within society once they are released. The nonprofit offers assistance in education, employment, healthcare and housing through private and public funding.
New Haven’s Mayor Justin Elicker along with city officials and partners held a press conference on Feb. 4, to officially open the Welcome Center for operation.
“After 47 years of service Project M.O.R.E’s dream of a one-stop-shop for those individuals who are released from incarceration, who are on parole or probation will be provided services so they can be reintegrated into their community successfully.” said Project M.O.R.E.’s President and CEO Dennis Daniels. “A collaboration with the City of New Haven this is a dream [that] has come to fruition in creating welcome center.”
The New Haven Police Department is working closely with Project M.O.R.E. and the Reentry Welcome Center to help ex-offenders get back on their feet. Assistant Chief Renee Dominguez stressed the need to build relationships with those who are returning to the community.
“We have the same desire to keep people safe, alive, and out of jail which is what we say with the project's longevity message. It is important that when people are coming home they are coming to a place [where] they feel that they are able to get services and assistance that maybe we were lacking in the past," she said.