Restorative Reentry Fund
The Restorative Reentry Fund is a guaranteed income pilot run by Community Works West, an Oakland, California nonprofit that provides wraparound services for people impacted by the justice system. It gives unconditional monthly cash payments to adults reentering society after incarceration, paired with a peer advocate (who is also formerly incarcerated) and financial coaching. A cohort of 38 participants was announced in February 2023 in partnership with UpTogether, receiving $1,000 per month for 12 months followed by $500 per month for 6 months. The Fund is philanthropically funded through the East Bay Community Foundation's Remy Fund for Racial and Environmental Justice and COVID-19: A Just East Bay Response Fund. Its goal is to assess how guaranteed income affects the well-being, stability, and economic mobility of people returning home from prison or jail.
Guaranteed Income, Reentry, Justice-Impacted, Racial Equity, Peer Advocate Model, First-in-nation reentry GI pilot, Oakland/East Bay
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Community Works West (also referred to as Community Works)
- City
- Oakland
- State / Province
- California
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Phone
- +1 510-268-8116
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 38
- Funding type
- Philanthropic
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 15,000 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 833.33 USD
- Payment frequency
- Monthly
- How long the program lasts
- 18 months
- Benefit details
Payments are unconditional, with no work requirements or restrictions on how funds can be spent. Sources describe two different payment structures: Community Works' original 2021 program description cites $500/month for at least 12 months, while the February 2023 joint press release with UpTogether (the source that matches the seed data's 38-participant figure) describes $1,000/month for 12 months followed by $500/month for 6 months (18 months, roughly $15,000 total). Each participant is paired with a peer advocate who connects them to housing, employment, legal, and medical support, plus financial coaching and entrepreneurship resources. Recipients are also regularly surveyed to help assess the program's impact. Community Works' donation page for the Fund states it is 'no longer accepting donations' on that campaign, suggesting fundraising for this pilot phase has closed.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
The Fund targets adults reentering their community after incarceration, described in program materials as 'primarily Black and Brown adults' returning home from prison or jail. Community Works' 2021 program description specifies participants must reside in Alameda or Contra Costa County; a 2023 update frames the pilot as based in Oakland. No specific age range, income threshold, or minimum time-since-release was disclosed in available sources. The public application and selection process for participants was not documented in any source found.
Demographics
- Race / ethnicity targets
- Black and Latino/Brown adults (stated as primary target population, not stated as an exclusive requirement)
Justice
- Justice involvement status
- Formerly Incarcerated
Geography
- US states covered
- California
- Countries covered
- United States
- Cities covered
- Oakland
- Counties covered
- Alameda, Contra Costa
- Residency of Target Geography
- Yes
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Required
- Complementary program enrollment required
- Peer Advocate Support, Financial Coaching
- Research / participation requirements
Recipients are regularly surveyed by Community Works/UpTogether to assess the impact of payments on well-being; no named external academic research institution or published formal evaluation report was identified as of this research.
