WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last Friday, PICO National Network’s Live Free Campaign staff, which includes some formerly incarcerated citizens, met with White House officials as well as Congressional Black Caucus staff to discuss policy recommendations for returning citizens facing employment and housing barriers created by the box on many application forms. The group aims to highlight the obstacles returning citizens face when returning to society after completion of their sentences.
The 11 representatives from California, Ohio, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, New York, and Florida gave testimony of their personal experiences upon returning to society. Among the group was Akim Lattermore, community leader with the Ohio Organizing Collaborative and Jose Osuna, Director of External Affairs at Homeboy Industries. The voices of formerly incarcerated citizens are most often left out of conversation regarding the very policy changes that impact them, thus making these meetings unique and unprecedented.
“You can’t resolve policy issues surrounding fair hiring and the formerly incarcerated unless you have those impacted in the room,” said Akim Lattermore.
Many returning citizens often struggle with the job and housing application process when they are required to “check the box” indicating they were once incarcerated.
Osuna added, “I spent 13 years in California State Prison. Yet before that, I had a successful career, and as a result, my resume is still on file many places, so I still get calls. If I needed a job, there are plenty of opportunities but the federal contracting issue is putting people in horrible positions because they cannot hire me.”
