Pathway Home Evaluation Brief: Establishing Reentry Services to Support People After Release

In 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) funded Mathematica and partner Social Policy Research Associates to conduct an evaluation of the Pathway Home grants. This brief focuses on the 22 Pathway Home grants awarded in 2021 and describes the grantees’ experiences during their first year of implementation.

People transitioning from incarceration to successful reentry often face difficulties finding jobs because of obstacles related to mental health, the stigma of being a former offender, and limits on the types of jobs they can obtain because of restrictions for people with criminal records. Findings from evaluations of prior U.S. Department of Labor-funded reentry grants highlight the importance of addressing participants’ basic needs directly and through partnerships with community organizations that understand the needs of those returning from incarceration. This brief builds on those lessons by detailing how the Pathway Home grantees implemented services and established community partnerships to provide community-based services that address participant needs and help connect them to employment opportunities.