© 2024 WGLT
A public service of Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Federal Second Chance Grant To Benefit YWCA's Labyrinth

YWCA McLean County website
The YWCA's re-entry program for formerly incarcerated women in McLean County received a near $800,000 federal grant.

A federally funded grant will benefit the YWCA McLean County’s reintergration program for formerly incarcerated women.

Labyrinth received a near $800,000 Second Chance grant from the Department of Justice. The money will go towards hiring additional staff and expanding existing services.

YWCA Spokesperson Christy Germanis said the program helps any woman who has been formerly incarcerated re-enter the community.

“They can come in, they don’t have to live on the premises,” she said. “We do have housing for the women who are coming out of the justice system to help them transition back into everyday life.”

Germanis said Labyrinth benefits the whole community.

“Being able to increase the amount of women we can serve through Labyrinth is really good for the entire community,” Germanis said. “With recidivism rates so high, that is a major barrier in our community and communities across the country. So with us being able to have this grant to help us bolster those services, we’re able to reduce that recidivism rate.”

She said reducing those rates, “will help women become gainfully employed, have their children back in their custody, be able to be members of our community that are able to give back in the way that they want to give back.”

Germanis said Labyrinth provides the support women need to achieve those re-entry goals.

Services include transitional housing, job coaching and training, and mentoring programs for McLean County women recently released from the judicial system.

Last fiscal year, Labyrinth provided services for 82 women in McLean County. That includes 250 hours of group education, support groups, and workshops and additional client counseling for residential clients.

People like you value experienced, knowledgeable and award-winning journalism that covers meaningful stories in Bloomington-Normal. To support more stories and interviews like this one, please consider making a contribution.

Related Content