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Welcome to the New Sponsors, Inc. Website

Paul's Blog
Sep 152011

We’re very excited to to launch our new website, with more information about our Programs, our Staff and What We Need Right Now.

I’ll also start sharing more timely information about effective re-entry work right here in Lane County, as well as useful perspective from others doing effective work across the country. We know what works when it comes to helping people successfully return to their family and community after prison — we just have to get the word out, demonstrate success and get more people involved in meaningful ways.

Check back for my posts or subscribe to this blog to get new posts delivered straight to your inbox.

Thanks for your interest in Sponsors and your support for families in Lane County,

 

Paul Solomon
Executive Director of Sponsors Inc.

Posted by admin on September 15, 2011

Sponsors Grant and Per Diem Program to Provide Services for Formerly Incarcerated Veterans

Press Releases
Aug 152011

For Immediate Release, Monday, August 15, 2011
Contact: Paul Solomon, 541-505-5652

Media Availability

Sponsors Grant and Per Diem Program to Provide Services for Formerly Incarcerated Veterans

Eugene, OR – On August 8, 2011, the Department of Veteran Affairs notified Sponsors and the Housing and Community Services Agency of Lane County that the final request to provide services for veterans through the VA Grant and Per Diem Program (VA GPD) had been approved. Acting as the service provider, Sponsors will provide 10 beds of transitional housing dedicated to homeless veterans with criminal histories.

Since 1973 Sponsors has been providing reentry services to ex-offenders in Lane County. The VA GPD program will be co-located in the new $6 million, 72-bed transitional housing facility that Sponsors added to its housing portfolio last year. Sponsors is a leader in prisoner reentry services providing housing, case management, assistance with employment and schooling, and practical support to over 350 people with criminal histories annually. “Sponsors is an integral component of the local criminal justice system and has played a major role in assisting many ex-offenders become productive, tax-paying and crime-free community members,” said State Senator Floyd Prozanski.

Veterans will be housed for up to two years at Sponsors. In most cases, clients will spend between 3 to 6 months in the VA GPD program. Upon successful program completion, clients will have met four basic criteria: 1) Abstinence from drug and alcohol use (as evidenced by twice  weekly and random screenings); 2) Clients will have acquired full-time employment or schooling or be receiving disability or retirement benefits; 3) Clients will be compliant with the conditions of their release; 4) Clients will be moving into permanent, sustainable housing upon program completion. “Sponsors’ primary focus is on former inmates who present a moderate-to-high risk of returning to prison. It provides transitional shelter and structured case management for those individuals, while assisting them in attaining full-time employment, financial self-sufficiency, and long-term housing,” said Oregon State Supreme Court Chief Justice, Paul DeMuniz.

Sponsors will work closely with the Oregon Department of Corrections, the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs, the VA Eugene Community Reintegration Center and other agencies to insure a seamless continuum of services to support an underserved population of veterans. “Given the increase of incarcerated veterans in Oregon Correctional Institutions, Sponsors is committed to extending additional services to this vulnerable population,” Sponsors Executive Director, Paul Solomon said.

Download: VA Press Release

Posted by admin on August 15, 2011

Sponsors’ Director Paul Solomon Featured in Oregon Daily Emerald

Newsroom
Aug 012011

On April 1st, 2011, Paul Solomon succeeded Ron Chase as Executive Director of Sponsors Inc. after a long planned transition. Paul brings over a decade of experience at Sponsors as Men’s Progam Director, and his own personal experience of re-entry success.

Read more about Paul’s experiences that brought him to Sponsors and have made him a worker for justice in this article by the Daily Emerald: “Paul Solomon Fights Recidivism Through Sponsors” (May, 11, 2011).

Posted by admin on August 1, 2011

Spring 2011 Newsletter

Newsletters
Jul 222011

Grab the printable version of our Spring 2011 Newsletter.

In this issue:

  • Goodbye from Ron Chase
  • Launch of Mentorship Program
  • Women’s Program update
  • New research on what leads to successful re-entry to the community from prison
Posted by admin on July 22, 2011

Getting Back to School

Success Stories
Jul 222011

In June of 2011, current and former clients of Sponsors explained to the Lane County Commissioners how Sponsor’s critical programs had positively affected their lives and families. Here’s how Daina was able to change the direction of her life using the support she received from Sponsors:

Hello, my name is Daina Davisson; I am a mother of two and mathematics major at LCC. I am writing you today to tell you how Sponsors has and continues to help me change my life.

In 2003 I was a junior in the math program at OSU. I found myself in a very abusive relationship. It was not only physically but emotionally abusive. When I was finally able to get out of the relationship I was forced to leave school and return to my hometown with my two young children.

I became very depressed and felt like a complete failure. Eventually I turned to alcohol and drugs to cope with the pain. Drug addiction took over my life and I ended up homeless on the streets. Eventually I turned to crime and ended up in prison.

While I was in prison I was lucky enough to get into a drug and alcohol treatment program. The program taught the skills to deal with the things in life I have and will go through without turning to alcohol and drugs. After I completed the program I was released and Sponsor’s gave me a home to go to. They helped me get into an outpatient drug treatment program so that I could continue my recovery. They helped me get I.D. so that I was able to get a job. They taught me to budget and save money. With help from them I was able to save $2,000 to pay a debt to LCC in order for me to get back into school.

I have been out of prison for almost two years. I am involved in a community case managed program offered by Sponsors. They continue to help me be a successful and productive member of society. They are currently helping me to get into affordable housing so that I am able to continue my education and get a degree. My relationship with my children is getting stronger everyday and having my own apartment will give us even more time together.

Sponsors does so much more than just provide resources and skills to help you be successful. They have been there for me when I have had a bad day or a good day to give me support and encouragement. They believed in me and helped me to believe in myself. I can always go to them if I need someone to talk to or to get advice.

So I am asking you not to cut funding to Sponsors, so that more people like me can have a second chance. This program truly helps save people’s lives.

 

Posted by admin on July 22, 2011

Watch More KVAL Coverage of Sponsor’s New Building

May 222011

© 2011 Sponsors, Inc (Login) 338 Highway 99 North, Eugene, OR 97402, Phone (541) 485-8341 Development by Barry Amundson