The Fortune Society and Legal Action Center Applaud the New York State Senate for Passing the Access to Public Benefits for Reentry Act

(New York, NY)—The Fortune Society and Legal Action Center today applauded the New York State Senate for passing the Access to Public Benefits for Reentry Act (S5059/A3935) on Tuesday. The bill would require the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) to provide people with proactive support in accessing critical public benefits and safety net programming prior to their release.

Under the measure, benefits navigators would assist people in applying for a range of benefits, ensuring their access to stabilizing supports during the first critical weeks and months of reentry. To promote transparency and accountability, the bill also would require DOCCS to provide detailed reporting on application outcomes, eligibility rates, and unmet needs, thus helping to identify gaps and areas for improvement in reentry services.

“Far too many people returning from prison to our communities have no immediate means of supporting themselves and obtaining basic necessities, and struggle not to become a burden to their loved ones even as they work to rebuild those relationships,” said Reggie Chatman, Director of Policy at The Fortune Society. “At no cost to taxpayers, the Access to Public Benefits Act would remove a significant logistical and psychological barrier to successful reentry. If people are connected to benefits before they are released, instead of functioning in purely day-to-day survival mode, they can instead focus on seeking work, participating in any necessary treatment programs, and building the skills needed to navigate a digital world. The Fortune Society is immensely grateful to Senator Cordell Cleare and Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi for their leadership on this bill and to the Senate for expediting its passage. We urge the Assembly to act swiftly to pass this critical legislation.”

“With our state prisons in crisis, we not only need to make sure we do everything to bring people home, but also to ensure that when they come home, people have the necessary supports to be successful,” said Megan French-Marcelin, Senior Director of NYS Policy at the Legal Action Center. “Currently, people coming home have to navigate the incredibly arduous process of connecting to life-supporting benefits such as SNAP and public assistance while also seeking shelter, finding gainful employment, reconnecting with loved ones, and taking care of their emotional wellbeing – all while wearing the scarlet letter that is a conviction history. This bill is one small but critical step toward providing people with the necessary tools and supports to really thrive in the community. We applaud Senator Cordell Cleare and Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi for carrying this critical piece of legislation and urge the Assembly to follow suit and pass the Access to Public Benefits for Reentry Bill now.”

ABOUT THE FORTUNE SOCIETY: Founded in 1967, The Fortune Society has advocated on criminal justice issues for over five decades and is nationally recognized for developing model programs that help people with criminal justice histories to be assets to their communities. Fortune offers a holistic and integrated “one-stop-shop” model of service provision. Among the services offered are discharge planning, licensed outpatient substance use and mental health treatment, alternatives to incarceration, HIV/AIDS services, career development and job retention, education, family services, drop-in services, creative arts and supportive housing as well as lifetime access to aftercare. Fortune has a dual mission of services and advocacy. We use what we learn from our justice impacted staff and leadership and from the people we serve about the obstacles that people with criminal histories face to inform and fuel our advocacy work. Learn more at www.fortunesociety.org.

ABOUT LEGAL ACTION CENTER: Legal Action Center (LAC) is a national non-profit organization based in New York City that uses legal and policy strategies to fight discrimination, build health equity, and restore opportunity for people with arrest and conviction records, substance use disorders, and HIV or AIDS. In addition, LAC leads the NYS Alternatives to Incarceration Coalition. Learn more at www.lac.org.

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