“That’s when Joey Pagaduan was placed into the Homecoming Project, matched with two people who he’s lived with since January and now considers family — Quian Wang and Robert Fletcher, who are married and live with their two children in Berkeley, California.”
“The Berkeley couple had an extra room in their home and wanted to help address the housing crisis, which is exactly the mission of the homecoming project. Launched in 2018 by the Oakland-based nonprofit organization, Impact Justice, the program has already helped 100 formerly incarcerated individuals get back on their feet after serving lengthy prison sentences.”
“In July, Pagaduan graduated from the program, which lasts six months and he now works full-time as a case manager for the Homecoming Project, and fit in so well with his hosts that he still lives with them, renting a room paid for by the income he receives from his job.”
“‘Talk about defying the odds. Our participants, 100% of them, by the time they leave our program over the course of six months have been connected to affordable housing, 95% connected to employment opportunities and 0% of them have recidivated,’ said director of the Homecoming Project, Bernadette Butler.“
