The Case Worker Was Once the Participant
At CityWay's job fair in San Bernardino, Melinda sat down to talk about the Family Assistance Program and the work she does there as a re-entry case worker. Partway through, she explains how she found the organization: they came into the prison where she was serving a 24-year sentence.
"Upon coming home and building myself up and starting employment after such a long time, family assistance hired me," she says. The lived experience is the qualification — it is what lets her meet participants where they are.
What the Program Actually Provides
- Transitional housing for women coming home from California state prison, for up to a year
- No rent charged while in program — basic needs are covered so participants can focus on healing and getting back on their feet
- Rental assistance for men and women, even though the housing itself is women-only
- Employment development — resume building and job placement support
- Wraparound services, whatever a participant needs to reach self-sufficiency
The program is also retroactive. You do not have to be freshly released to qualify — anyone who has been to a California state prison is eligible for services.
The Savings Piece
Because nobody pays rent during the program, participants are pushed hard toward saving. The goal is that by the time someone is employed and steady, there is money behind them to move into their own apartment or rent a room from family. Housing without a financial runway just moves the cliff.
They Are Hiring — and Lived Experience Is Not Required
Family Assistance Program is hiring case managers. Melinda is clear that having been incarcerated helps you connect with participants, but it is not a requirement. Open roles and volunteer opportunities are listed on their website, and hiring runs on availability rather than a fixed season — so checking back matters.
On the Job Fair Itself
Melinda tables at events constantly, and called this one of the largest she has attended in her field. Her read on the room: people coming through "seem really hungry and eager to get out there." Even the conversations that were not a fit produced referrals — someone who knows someone who needs the service.
Why This One Matters
Re-entry work fails or succeeds on whether somebody believes the person in front of them can change. Family Assistance Program answered that by hiring the woman who came through the door. That is the whole argument, and it is why this conversation is worth ten minutes.
Watch the full interview for Melinda's account of the program, the services, and what they are hiring for.
