Starting Over for Success (SOS) is a Barry County non-profit organization that  helps parolees or probationers coming out of jail or prison to make  a successful re-entry into the community.

 

The outstanding needs of clients while they re-establish themselves back into the community are jobs, housing and transportation. Operating like a staffing agency the group provides job training, development, searches, job retention and access to many community resources. They have a van for transportation to and from jobs that is working well.

 

The organization is now increasing its emphasis on providing housing in the wider Barry County area, as part of its partnership with the Offender Success Program. Many ex-offenders have homes to go to with family, friends or wives, but some do not.

 

“Funded housing is both a crucial and successful resource for returning citizens,” SOS Housing Specialist Karen Ferrier said. Landlords provide a home for parolees who need transitional housing; SOS gives each person moving into a housing unit food and hygiene kits and bedding to get them started.

 

“We provide a number of services to assist with their return such as a clothing voucher; assistance in getting their identification whether it’s a birth certificate or driver’s license/State ID; bus tickets to help them get around town to meet their parole agents, shop, doctor appointments, job interviews and so on. 

 

“We also connect them with many community resources for food, clothing, financial assistance and medical/prescription,” Ferrier said. “Our goal is that every offender released from prison will have the tools needed to succeed in the community and the opportunity to use those tools to be productive, self-sufficient citizens.”

 

"Stable housing for returning citizens means safer communities.  Renting to returning citizens means renting to tenants who have extra oversight and support," she said.  "In fact, the very purpose of parole is to provide structured, supported and supervised transition back into the community.

Our ex-offenders learn of the benefits of social connections and community support."

 

In Barry County, Ferrier handles the housing segment and Joyce Snow handles the employment part of the Offender Success Program. The fiduciary is Michigan Works! West Central for Barry and other counties.

 

If you are a landlord able to provide housing to our returning citizens, contact Ferrier at 517-667-9629; Snow at 269-908-1091 or e-mail www.startingoverforsuccess.org or startingoverforsuccess@yahoo.com