FREE 101
What is FREE?
Established in July 2013, Freedom House Reentry Education and Employment Corporation (FREE) is a nonprofit organization providing reentry services to formerly incarcerated adults, veterans, and caring social services for their children. FREE is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in California and New York.
What is recidivism?
Formerly incarcerated individual reoffends and re-enters into the judicial system, prison and/or jail.
Why was FREE started and by whom?
Dylan Hood created FREE in 2013. He had an epiphany: Human beings make mistakes and most people who make mistakes deserve a second chance. Researching the concept of second chances and how they manifest in different ways, Hood became acutely aware of the millions of people who have made mistakes that resulted in incarceration. Many of these men and women were not given second chances, but instead found themselves defined by their mistakes and trapped in the criminal justice system. He wanted to empower impoverished communities to start businesses and become self reliant, driven by goals and freedom. Hood, wanted an easy and successful way for formerly incarcerated individuals to reenter into their communities, so he created FREE. https://www.freereentry.org/aboutus.html
How does supporting to reduce recidivism and FREE help me?
We provide programs to reduce recidivism, empower the formerly incarcerated, support children with incarcerated parents, and veterans involved in the judicial system. Reducing recidivism with FREE will allow formerly incarcerated individuals to find gainful employment, obtain a livable income, and return that money into the community. We also provide professional counseling to help heal the trauma which may have lead to criminal activity, which may also make emergency care more available to you and your needs. FREE also assist formerly incarcerated individuals with housing, reducing homelessness and the strain on government assistance.
You will see reduced crime, improved community surroundings and a increased investments within your neighborhood.
You will see reduced crime, improved community surroundings and a increased investments within your neighborhood.
How does the cannabis industry help formerly incarcerated people?
FREE’s FCC will hire formerly incarcerated individuals to work our cannabis farms. We will give a second chance, a livable wage and a future to people who need it most. Fore years many people were demonized for working in the cannabis industry, today we need their help, their knowledge, their experience to help the community grow and assist FREE social enterprise programs.
How does FREE operate on a limited budget?
We are proud to operate on a “shoestring” budget, because every penny goes back into the individuals and the communities we help. FREE puts 96.8% of the donations into FCC and livable wages with our social enterprise programs.