No One Can Start Over with $100—How Reentry Cash Helped Shayne Rebuild

When Shayne returned home from incarceration, he faced the same overwhelming reality that so many justice-impacted individuals do—starting over with nothing but $100 and the clothes on his back. In previous attempts at reentry, the financial strain became unbearable, leading him back to old habits as a way to cope. But this time was different. This time, he had support.

After enrolling in the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) in Denver, Shayne found not only employment but also critical financial assistance that helped him bridge the gap between his release and long-term stability. In July 2023, CEO launched a reentry cash pilot program that provided 100 Coloradans with a monthly stipend of $500 for up to six months to support basic daily needs. Shayne could cover the immediate transportation costs, work tools, and daily necessities, ensuring he could return to work without delay.

"I used the money to help my family by buying clothes and food and paying for heating bills and other things like that," Shayne recalls. "When I got out, I didn't have much and needed to get to work every day. The reentry cash assistance allowed me to pay for transportation and for the tools I needed to go back to work right away."

Even as he started earning a paycheck, Shayne still faced the daunting challenge of supporting his family without a financial safety net. CEO's continued support made all the difference, allowing him to stabilize his life and focus on securing a higher-paying job.

"Even after I started working and was making a paycheck, it still was hard to pay all of the bills because I had no help and had a family to support," he explains. "Receiving monthly payments from the reentry cash program filled in the gap and let me stop worrying about how I would make it once I was out. It helped me until I found a higher-paying job to make more money."

For Shayne, reentry cash assistance wasn't just about financial aid—it was about creating a foundation for success and breaking the cycle of instability that had hindered him in the past. He knows firsthand how difficult reentry is and is passionate about ensuring lawmakers understand the barriers people like him face.

"People who never went to prison don't realize how hard reentry is," he says. "I turned to drugs three times when I was going through that transition home, and they ruined my life again and again. I was trying to cope because I didn't have what I needed to survive financially. This time was different because even though it was tough to reintegrate into society, I had help. Every time I got out of prison, I had $100 and the clothes on my back. It's difficult to start over that way – not impossible, but it becomes the only thing you're thinking about, surviving."

Now, Shayne is using his voice to advocate for fair reentry policies, including expanding programs like reentry cash to ensure more individuals have a real chance at success.

"Lawmakers need to know that $100 isn't enough; they can't expect us to get out and succeed with that," he says. "There are so many barriers that you must overcome, and having no money makes the transition nearly impossible. I hope they pass the reentry cash assistance into law. But in the end, if it helps more people do good than bad, I would like to see it become common practice in the DOC in every state, not just places like New York and California."

Today, Shayne is thriving, working in a higher-paying job and providing for his family. With the proper support, individuals like Shayne can break the cycle and build a future full of promise.

Visit our blog page to read more success stories, or donate to support economic mobility opportunities for justice-impacted individuals.