“It Was More Than Just Money”: Kayla’s Reentry Cash Assistance Story

Kayla, a young woman from Compton, California, received reentry cash assistance at a critical turning point.

Kayla’s early years were shaped by hardship. She experienced frequent encounters with the law and struggled with homelessness. But after her last stint in jail in 2016, she decided to turn her life around.

"I wanted to better myself and do something more with my life," she said.

Determined to move forward, she began working multiple jobs to make ends meet, qualified for Section 8 housing, and enrolled full-time at Compton College through FAFSA, majoring in sociology.

However, she knew her success was far from certain without additional support.

"I needed a network," Kayla explained. "I wanted to place myself in an environment where I could grow and others wanted to do the same."

That environment came through A New Way of Life (ANWOL) and its Career Bridge Initiative Program, a required training component for participants receiving reentry payments. A classmate introduced her to the program, and it wasn’t long before Kayla found the guidance and structure she needed.

Through a partnership between ANWOL and the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), Kayla became eligible for $2,700 in direct reentry cash support through California’s HIRE Grant program. The needs-based payments were distributed in installments as she completed individual self-improvement goals, helping her build stability and move toward her academic and career goals.

"The money I received after completing each goal motivated me to keep going," she said.

With those funds, Kayla repaired her car, paid for gas and utilities, and bought a new dining room table. She also stocked up on groceries and toiletries and invested in new clothes and shoes suitable for school and professional settings.

“Being able to stock up on necessities and buy better clothing appropriate for school and a professional setting was huge,” she said. “The financial support allowed me to do things for myself that I was normally not able to do.”

Kayla’s story is not unique, but it is instructive. When people are given the proper support, including direct cash, their chances of long-term success increase dramatically. A recent MDRC report found that 60-day cash assistance programs reduced parole violations by more than 40 percent. The benefits lasted over a year and contributed to lower reincarceration rates. Additional research shows these programs can lead to a decline in violent crime arrest rates and sharply reduce recidivism among women.

Kayla's support gave her the foundation and fortitude to continue pursuing a new, more productive life.

"It's a struggle, but I enjoy learning and want to take full advantage of whatever opportunities are out there to help me grow," she said.

With a college degree in sight, a stable living situation, and a more straightforward path forward, Kayla embodies the potential unlocked when people returning home are met not with barriers but with belief and resources.

"I just want to move forward."

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