Returning Citizens Stimulus (RCS) Program
The Returning Citizens Stimulus (RCS) is a milestone-based cash transfer program launched in April 2020 by the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), a national reentry-services nonprofit, to provide emergency financial support to people recently released from incarceration during the COVID-19 pandemic. CEO partnered with 32 other reentry organizations to operate RCS in 28 cities nationwide, with the large majority of participants concentrated in New York City, Los Angeles, Oakland, Detroit, New Orleans, Tulsa, and Denver. The program was funded by roughly $24 million from the Justice and Mobility Fund, a collaboration of the Ford Foundation and Blue Meridian Partners with support from the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies. MDRC independently evaluated the program's implementation and participant outcomes.
Justice-Impacted, Reentry, Formerly Incarcerated, COVID-19 Response, Multi-City, Cash Transfer, Milestone-Based
Headquarters
- Organization Name
- Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO)
- City
- New York
- State / Province
- New York
- Country
- United States
Contact
- Website
- https://ceoworks.org/
- Phone
- +1 212 422 4430
- info@ceoworks.org
- Social media links
Status & Funding
- Organization status
- Active
- Program status
- Inactive
- Application status
- Timed
- Number of recipients
- 10,517
- Funding type
- Philanthropic
Benefits
- Currency Type
- Fiat
- Currency
- USD
- Total Amount
- 2,750 USD
- Avg. Per Month
- 1,375 USD
- Payment frequency
- Monthly
- How long the program lasts
- 2 months
- Distribution Type
- Prepaid Debit Card (Skylight pay card)
- Benefit details
Participants could receive up to three payments — an initial payment upon enrollment, then additional payments at 30 and 60 days — contingent on completing milestone tasks such as preparing a resume or attending an employment workshop. Total payments ranged from $2,250 to $2,750 per person depending on location, with participants in higher-cost cities (Los Angeles, Oakland, New York City) and CEO's own clients eligible for the higher amount. Payments were distributed via prepaid Skylight debit cards. On average, participants received $2,256, and over 90 percent received two or three payments.
Eligibility
Overview
- Eligibility details
To qualify, individuals had to be recently released from incarceration, age 18 or older, unemployed or underemployed (working 20 hours or fewer per week), and not already employed by CEO or a partner reentry organization. Eligible individuals accessed RCS by enrolling in reentry services at CEO or one of 32 partner organizations across 28 cities. There was no income, asset, or demographic screening beyond these criteria in the sources reviewed.
Demographics
- Minimum age
- 18
Financial
- Employment status
- Unemployed, Underemployed
Justice
- Justice involvement status
- Formerly Incarcerated
Geography
- US states covered
- New York, California, Michigan, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Colorado
- Countries covered
- United States
- Cities covered
- New York City, Los Angeles, Oakland, Detroit, New Orleans, Tulsa, Denver
Participation
- Research / data sharing
- Optional
- Complementary program enrollment required
- Enrollment in reentry case-management/employment services at CEO or a partner reentry organization was required to access RCS milestone payments.
- Research / participation requirements
MDRC, funded by CEO and Blue Meridian Partners on behalf of the Justice and Mobility Fund, conducted a mixed-methods evaluation using program records, participant/staff interviews, and two- and five-month follow-up surveys. About 72% (7,605 of 10,517) of enrollees consented to participate in the research component; a planned follow-up analysis was to examine RCS's effects on criminal justice outcomes such as reincarceration.
Application Process
- How to apply
There was no standalone public application; individuals became eligible by enrolling in reentry/employment services at CEO or one of 32 partner reentry organizations operating in 28 cities following their release from incarceration.
- Selection process
Not competitive; all individuals meeting eligibility criteria (recently released, 18+, unemployed/underemployed, not employed by CEO or a partner org) who enrolled in services at CEO or a partner organization were enrolled in RCS as program funding allowed.
