2025-2026 Impact Grant Recipient: Returning Citizens Support Group
The Organization:
Founded in 2017 by Newark-raised co-founders who experienced incarceration firsthand, RCSG addresses the systemic barriers they personally encountered when they exited the system. RCSG delivers a comprehensive wraparound model including support for housing, mental and emotional health, family reunification, employment placement, legal services, and more. This approach empowers returning citizens to build productive lives and navigate the transition home with dignity. Delivered by individuals with lived experience, these services lead to strong outcomes: 85% of participants remain arrest-free one year after program completion.
The Challenge:
Returning citizens are 12 times more likely to experience homelessness than the general public. This crisis is most acute for the growing population of incarcerated individuals aged 50+, who often face chronic health issues and exclusion from traditional senior housing. In New Jersey, no existing programs provide housing and services specifically tailored to this vulnerable demographic, leaving them at high risk for preventable re-incarceration or recidivism.
The Project: Restorative Justice Healing Home
Opened in December 2025, The Restorative Justice Healing Home (RJHH) is designed to serve older returning citizens (ages 55+) through a restorative, healing-centered housing model. RJHH offers 180-365 day supportive housing for up to eight residents at a time, along with essential needs such as food, hygiene supplies, and transportation access. Participants engage in onsite healing circles in partnership with Inside Circle, RCSG’s weekly community support groups, and community volunteer hours. Residents also receive direct access to RCSG’s full continuum of wraparound services, including peer support, counseling, workforce development, employment placement, and case management. A live-in resident assistant oversees daily operations and supports each resident in developing and achieving individualized goals.
The Grant:
The $100,000 Impact Grant will provide critical sustainability funds for RJHH. Specifically, the grant will fund essential staffing, including a live-in resident assistant, case management, and counseling, alongside core operating expenses like utilities, groceries, and transportation. These funds ensure a stable environment where residents can focus entirely on long-term progress.
The Impact:
RJHH breaks the cycle of recidivism by addressing the root causes of instability for older returning citizens, a rapidly growing yet overlooked population. By pioneering a restorative model specifically for this demographic, RCSG serves as a proof-of-concept for practitioners across the field, demonstrating that tailored, peer-led care is the key to successful reentry. Success is measured by the percentage of participants who remain housed, employed, and arrest-free 12 months post-program. Ultimately, RJHH offers more than just a bed; it provides a scalable pathway to dignity, family reunification, and lasting community belonging.
