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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Mayor Michelle Wu announced on Thursday that applications are open for the latest round of the Returning Citizen Support Mini Grant.
The RCS grant is part of the city’s Second Chance Month programs. Second Chance Month is a national initiative originally created by the federal government in 2008 that aims to reduce recidivism and help to improve the quality of life of individuals reentering society after being incarcerated.
The goal of Boston’s RCS grant is to support nonprofit organizations that help provide reentry support services and programming to people returning to Boston from federal, state, or county correctional facilities.
“I am grateful for all of the organizations that create and open doors for second-chance opportunities, and we aim to support them in the critical work that they do,” said Wu in a press release on Thursday.
$80,000 worth of grant money will be awarded to these nonprofits, and the applications are open until May 7.
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Wu said that with the RCS grant, the city aims “to support returning citizens to make a smooth transition to thrive in their communities.”
“Providing opportunities for organizations led by and serving formerly incarcerated Boston residents is directly in line with the Mayor’s commitment of creating a Boston that is welcoming to all,” said José F. Massó, Chief of Human Services.
“The needs of Boston’s returning citizens currently exceed the available supply; this investment allows us to increase our service capacity and provides opportunities for those navigating the challenges of reentry to be met with compassion and grace."
The Mayor's Office of Returning Citizens, who help thousands of people every year on their reentry process from prisons and jails, is also hosting a job fair on April 17 to support returning citizens applying for jobs at the city of Boston.
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