When Matthew Cage’s father died, Matthew knew it fell on him to financially support his mom. But there was a problem. Matthew had just been released from prison — and many don’t want to rent or employ someone with a criminal record.

Experts say a good indication of whether someone will return to prison is how quickly they find housing. A group of nonprofits across Chicago’s South and West sides are trying to break that cycle. Their solution: provide clean, affordable and dignified housing for people leaving prison — PLUS the social, health and spiritual support they need to change their life. 

This is the story of two men who have broken that cycle, and how housing allowed them to show up for themselves, their families — and eventually — their communities. 

Produced by Joshua Eferighe @Eferighe for Reparations Media | Editorial support from Juneteenth Productions @juneteenthprod2 | Collaboration with Precious Blood Ministries | Sound design by Will Jarvis @willyfrederick | Music: Sarah Abdullah, Blue Dot Sessions

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Key words: housing, homeless, unhoused, halfway house, prison, incarceration, landlord, rent, jail, felony, job, employment, mental health, Precious Blood Ministries, Green Re-Entry, solutions