TRANFORMATION STORIES
Kenneth - Open Door
“Having fun turned into terror,” says Kenneth, regarding his mid-life-crisis partying that turned into a cocaine addiction and time in prison.
Open Door
The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for the State of California reports a total of 323,711 men and women in the prison system and under supervision at different facilities as of August of 2008, one of the largest counts in the country. Of that number 127,722 (39%) have been released with conditions of parole and are in need of services to assist them with reintegrating back into their communities. With an 8% increase in the number of parolees exiting the system compared to 2006, it is crucial that re-entry programs are available to rehabilitate individuals and provide them with the necessary tools to overcome their barriers.
The Weingart Center Association’s Open Door program is a successful re-entry program that helps people on parole as they exit the prison system and try to establish a life in the community.
The Open Door program consists of two separate components: the 6-month Open Door Residential program and Open Door Community. The Open Door programs provide supportive services to people on parole and homeless individuals to prepare them for re-entry into the community.
Open Door – Residential
Homeless individuals referred by LAHSA and the Weingart Access Center as well as individuals on parole referred by their parole officer or the LA County Sheriff’s Department are eligible for Open Door – Residential. Participants coming into the Open Door program must be willing and able to work. Some of the many services offered in this residential program include:
- Transitional housing
- Mental health services
- Substance Abuse treatment
- Education
- Job preparedness & placement
- Clothing
- Transportation
- And more…
Basic Necessities
We provide basic necessities — transitional housing, meals, clothing, laundry and toiletries, and even voicemail and mail drop — so our participants can transform their lives and focus on their future goals.
Job Preparedness and Placement
Our staff conducts Employment Readiness Workshops and week long training sessions to assist with time management, interview skills, and resume building. Our work-ready participants can take advantage of job placement services provided by our Job Developer.
On-Site Savings Plan
Participants are required to save 75% of their income for use when transitioning into permanent housing and living on their own.
Open Door — Community
The Open Door program also has a non-residential component. Anyone who is currently on parole can use the services offered by Open Door – Community, which include:
- Life skills & re-entry groups
- Education
- Job preparedness & placement
- Referrals for services such as: clothing assistance, medical, dental, substance abuse recovery, etc.
- And more…
In Partnership
The Open Door program operates in partnership with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Friends Outside and PACT.
Contact Information
To request services, please contact 213.689.2154 for Open Door, Residential, and 213.689.2111 for Open Door, Community.
