At The Fortune Society, we understand the many challenges our participants face as they reenter society after incarceration. We also understand that, upon release, our participants might feel confused or overwhelmed about how to begin the reentry process.  

At Fortune, we provide a comprehensive array of services for individuals coming home. Our culturally competent staff is available to answer any questions our participants have throughout their reentry journeys. Our goal is to aid participants during reentry and meet their specific needs, whether they need housing assistance, behavioral health treatment, or other supportive services.  

However, while each of our participants follows a unique path after arriving at Fortune, they all take similar first steps when arriving at our Long Island City service center. We sat down with Joseph, a Fortune participant, to hear about his first day at Fortune after release, and he reflected on the growth he has seen in himself since.  

Joseph first came to Fortune in 2019 after his first charge, and he felt lost. He didn’t know how to rebuild after losing so much while incarcerated. During his time on Rikers Island, he heard about The Fortune Society and connected with one of our Transition Coordinators. After release, Joseph knew at least where to go to get started.  

“I had no plans,” Joseph explained. “I just knew that I wanted to get back on my feet as soon as possible. I needed to get an apartment and start working because I lost everything.”  

Upon entering Fortune’s Long Island City service center, Joseph was warmly greeted by the Admissions staff behind the reception desk. He filled out a form with some background questions to establish his needs, including questions about the specific services he was looking for. He was then connected with an intake coordinator to further discuss what he sought at Fortune and for referrals to various programs.  

First, Joseph needed assistance obtaining identification.  

“I lost my ID, social security card, birth certificate, and just all the documents that even said that I existed,” Joseph said. “They helped me get everything I needed, and I have made sure to hold onto everything now.”  

Working with the Benefits Access team to obtain these important documents and identification helped relieve some of Joseph’s initial stress, allowing him to focus on his other needs.  

Joseph’s main priority was finding employment, so he was referred to Employment Services at Fortune for the job-readiness workshop. However, Joseph needed financial assistance until he could find employment. He received further assistance in determining eligibility for and applying for supplemental income programs.  

“I had just come home,” Joseph explained. “I was on probation, and I got denied from a lot of jobs. Having that income was helpful more me, and Fortune did a lot to help me get that.”  

Since coming to Fortune, Joseph has grown significantly, and he credits the supportive community he found here. His case manager, Sam, has become a role model for Joseph, and he feels comfortable going to him for support when needed.  

Now, Joseph is enrolled in college for Business Management, and he has secured an internship. He shared that having Fortune as a supportive network has helped tremendously as he continues to work toward success.