Reentry Orgs Secure $10 Million in CA State Budget

CEO Media Contact:
Claire Gross, Sr. Manager Public Relations
[email protected] | (646) 370-8292

SACRAMENTO, CA–June 30, 2025– The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) applauds the California State Legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom for including ten million dollars in California’s FY26 budget to sustain the Helping Justice-Impacted Reenter Employment (HIRE) grant program. This funding would not be possible without the dedicated advocacy of legislative champions such as State Assemblymember Dr. Lashae Sharp-Collins. CEO is also appreciative of State Assemblymembers Jesse Gabriel and Sharon Quirk-Silva, and State Senators Scott Wiener and Laura Richardson for their leadership and commitment to creating pathways to opportunity, the partnership of the Re-Entry Providers Association of California, and the support of over 40 organizations who were a part of the HIRE advocacy coalition this session.

Securing $10 million for the HIRE initiative in this year’s budget reflects a growing recognition in the Legislature that reentry and workforce development for justice-involved individuals are essential to both public safety and fiscal responsibility,” said California Assemblywoman Dr. Sharp-Collins, 79th District. “I was proud to lead this request and push for this funding alongside a powerful coalition of advocates and service providers. This allocation is a significant win, especially in a difficult budget year, and allows us to continue progress on reducing recidivism and strengthening the foundation for successful reintegration. I remain committed to building on this momentum and fighting for long-term, sustained support for reentry in California.”

“CEO is grateful to Governor Newsom and The California State Legislature for making sure holistic reentry support is reflected in the state's budget. Through HIRE, CEO and its partners have provided nearly $600,000 in direct cash payments and connected over 1,200 Californians to essential services, setting them on the path to stable employment and autonomy, "said Sam Schaeffer, CEO of the Center for Employment Opportunities. "California’s FY26 budget was one of the most austere and difficult sessions this state has ever seen. While lawmakers worked to address the multitude of challenges facing California, CEO’s justice-impacted champions showed up at every opportunity to make sure their community’s needs were represented in this budget. As savings from Proposition 47 dry up due to the passage of Proposition 36, it is more important than ever that California invests in programs that equip justice-impacted people with the tools and support they need to succeed. We look forward to working with lawmakers to ensure a permanent funding stream for HIRE next session.”

“This investment in the HIRE program reflects a long-overdue recognition that true public safety starts when we create opportunity. Investments in reentry are proven to reduce rates of re-offense, bolstering public safety,” said Saun G. Hough, Partnerships Director, Californians for Safety and Justice. “We know that when people coming home have access to stable jobs, housing, and community support, they’re far more likely to succeed and that's how we achieve the safety that every community and neighborhood in this state desires and deserves. We applaud the legislature and the Governor for prioritizing these resources and keeping these critical investments intact.”

In 2022, as a result of community advocacy led by CEO, the Re-Entry Providers Association of California, and the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, the California Legislature made a one-time appropriation of over $50 million to provide employment support services and direct cash assistance to people returning home from incarceration. As a result, HIRE was created. 81 organizations received grant funding, $10 million was set aside for needs-based payments, and an estimated 7,200 justice-impacted individuals were served across 22 counties.

CEO is one of many organizations in California that has and will receive support through HIRE. Each organization contributes to a robust wrap-around service coalition addressing the immediate needs of formerly incarcerated Californians. Across the state, organizations that focus on critical supportive services such as mental health, housing, and education specifically for people returning home, will be able to continue to serve their communities through HIRE.

Advocacy for HIRE’s direct cash component builds on concrete data that shows financial assistance keeps people from going back to prison. A groundbreaking and independent impact study published by MDRC in April 2025 found that CEO’s Returning Citizens Stimulus program significantly reduced parole violations in the year following release from incarceration—even though the cash installments lasted only 60 days. According to MDRC, the RCS program may have been effective at reducing reincarceration among program participants in the 18-, 24-, and 30-month follow-up periods.

In addition to direct cash assistance, HIRE provides life-changing support for justice-impacted people enroll in advanced training opportunities to make them competitive in the workforce. For example, HIRE grants provide stipends for participants to enroll in courses to obtain their Commercial Driver's License, a career with the potential to grow into a six figure salary.

To read more stories about the impacts of HIRE please visit: ceoworks.org/blog

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The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) provides immediate, effective and comprehensive employment services exclusively to people recently released from incarceration. CEO currently operates in more than 30 cities across 12 states and is dedicated to ensuring that justice-impacted individuals have opportunities to achieve socioeconomic mobility. For more information, visit ceoworks.org.