Safe Housing for Women in Reentry

Affordable housing and homelessness

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Since the 1980s, the imprisonment of U.S. women has surged by over 700%. For many, incarceration is the culmination of a lifetime marred by pain, trauma, mental/physical illness, and poverty. The impact of incarceration on women is profound and uniquely damaging. When men are imprisoned, familial relationships are strained; but when women are incarcerated, the repercussions are even more severe: the fabric of family life unravels, children are lost, and families are destroyed. Upon release, women face significant barriers to reentry. Barriers include access to housing, child/family reunification, and continuing education that leads to living wage employment. Formerly incarcerated individuals are 10 times more likely to be homeless than those who are not systems-involved. These blockades, compounded by formal policies and societal stigmas, make reentry exceedingly difficult. They increase the likelihood of recidivism, and perpetuate a cycle of generational incarceration.

Recognized as a successful model, ANWOL is an innovative, holistic program using evidence-informed practices. Our gender-specific, individualized, therapeutic, and community-based approach addresses women's multidimensional needs. We understand how mental illness, trauma, poverty, and substance misuse intersect to affect successful reentry.
We operate twelve homes in Los Angeles County, with the ability to offer essential services for up to 90 formerly incarcerated women and their children at any given time. Transitioning from incarceration or drug treatment, many are on parole or probation, overcoming trauma, substance misuse, and co-occurring mental or physical health issues. While incredibly resilient, they are indigent or low-income; most have survived domestic violence or sexual abuse; and were primary caregivers before incarceration. The vast majority (89%) are women of color.
Residents of our safe homes receive essential daily needs, including meals, clothing, and toiletries. They have access to 12-step recovery programs, counseling, family reunification support, job and computer training, employment opportunities, education, leadership development, civic engagement, financial planning, communication-building workshops, and permanent housing – all designed to facilitate self-sufficiency.

If ANWOL’s work in Los Angeles County is successful, recidivism among formerly incarcerated women will decrease as more women reintegrate as empowered, self-sufficient individuals. Families will reunite, restoring household stability and benefiting children. Homelessness will decline due to our stable housing and comprehensive support services. More women will gain employment through our workforce development programs and employer partnerships, improving economic outcomes. Our holistic approach will foster healthier, more resilient communities, reducing stigma around formerly incarcerated women and highlighting their potential for positive change. ANWOL’s scalable model has been embraced and is being replicated by 30 organizations across the U.S., including three (3) in Los Angeles. We aim to continue serving as a beacon of hope, showcasing the impact of holistic reentry programs in creating a more just and equitable society.

At A New Way of Life, we are reversing recidivism. Since our founding in 1998, over 1,700 women and children have found safety and support in our safe homes; over 400 women have been reunited with their children. An average of 9 out of every 10 women served annually meet benchmarks identified as necessary for successful community reentry after periods of incarceration. Moreover, our safe home services are provided at less than half the cost of incarceration. In 2024, we project that we will build upon these successes, serving a minimum of 100 Los Angeles women through our twelve safe homes.