When Devanae came home to Oklahoma City, she faced an invisible barrier common to out-of-state arrivals: she simply did not know where to start. Because she carries a heavy charge on her past criminal record, finding an employer or a landlord willing to look past a background check and get to know her felt nearly impossible. The immediate transition was marked by isolated survival, lacking any real structural support until she connected with the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO).
The relentless wave of background check rejections took a heavy emotional toll. The constant housing and job denials made her feel as though the punishment would be a never-ending cycle, stalling her motivation to push forward.
"With all the denials because of my past, it stopped me from wanting to move forward," Devanae says. "I didn't feel worthy of getting a job."
The financial instability only deepened when she secured a commission-based role at a local car dealership. While the employer overlooked her past conviction, her early commission earnings triggered an immediate cutoff of her food stamps. Fresh out of prison and still drowning under mounting court fines and fees, she found herself stripped of nutritional support before achieving true financial security. The system penalized her early work success rather than helping her stabilize.
If background checks did not stand in her way, Devanae would be in a vastly different financial position today. Not every person who spends time in prison matches a stereotype; many are simply products of their environment or found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. Removing unnecessary background barriers and offering sustained financial support would ensure that qualified, motivated individuals receive a fair chance to build a stable life.
