Help Ensure No One Leaves Prison Alone

People leaving prison face enormous challenges as they rebuild their lives. You can help provide the relationships and practical support they need to reintegrate into our community.

Two women walk down a city sidewalk; one points while the other carries a bag, both dressed casually with one in a striped shirt and the other in a green top and yellow skirt.

Returning to the community after incarceration can be overwhelming.

Many individuals face challenges securing housing, finding employment, reconnecting with family, accessing health services, and establishing a supportive social network. Each obstacle makes it harder to build the stability needed for a fresh start.

And the consequences are serious. Stigma and overwhelming obstacles make people feel forced back into old, destructive habits. As a result, nearly 50% of individuals released from prison are reconvicted within two years.

For someone trying to rebuild their life, facing all of these challenges without consistent support makes a stable future feel out of reach.

An older man with gray hair and a beard sitting on a brown park bench with his eyes closed, wearing glasses, a blue and black athletic shirt, dark pants, gray sneakers, a black cap, and holding a drink. The bench is on a sidewalk outside a building with a wooden structure, with a parking lot filled with cars and mountains in the background.

NOLA Helps People Find Their Footing

No One Leaves Alone (NOLA) connects people leaving prison with relationships, encouragement, and practical support as they reintegrate into the community.

NOLA participants receive support in:

  • Housing

  • Health and wellness

  • Employment

  • Education and life skills

  • Positive relationships

Volunteers walk alongside participants as they navigate these areas, helping them access resources, work through challenges, and keep moving toward greater stability and independence.

For Brandon, that kind of support helped make an overwhelming transition more manageable:

“To have somebody there to point you in the right direction is important. It helps ground you. It helps put you in the right direction.”

— Brandon, formerly incarcerated person

You Can Help Someone Keep Moving Forward

You don’t need to solve every problem someone faces after prison; just be a steady presence who helps them take the next step.

Show up consistently. Build trust by being present, listening, and offering encouragement.

Help with practical challenges. Support someone as they navigate housing, employment, appointments, community resources, and other everyday needs.

Keep the future in view. Encourage achievable goals and help someone stay focused on the life they are working to build.

If you know of an employment opportunity click the button on the right.

Two men sitting at a wooden table in a cafe. The man on the left is bald, wearing glasses, and a dark shirt. The man on the right has a beard, glasses, wearing a black cap, a black and teal striped shirt, and a watch. There are cups of coffee and glasses of water on the table. In the background, there are large windows, shelves, and a counter with a plant and baked goods.

No One Should Have to Rebuild Their Life Alone

Without stable relationships and practical support, the challenges of leaving prison quickly pile up. Stigma increases isolation and keeps necessities like housing and employment out of reach. Meanwhile, old patterns become harder to escape.

But with a NOLA mentor beside them, a person leaving prison has someone to turn to as they navigate those challenges. They can build stronger connections, access practical resources, gain confidence, and keep taking steps toward a stable life in our community.

You can help make that possible.

Volunteer as a mentor today, or give now to provide reintegration support for people returning to the community.

Two men, one younger and one older, smiling and holding each other in an outdoor setting with trees and autumn leaves in the background.