What is the COVID-19 Reentry Payment Program?
The Office of Reentry Partnerships (ORP) has concluded its COVID-19 Reentry Payment Program. The program was created to support people experiencing challenges with reentry to their communities after incarceration, challenges that only became worse during COVID-19.
The program provided one-time payments of $500 to Philadelphians making less than $33,000 a year who were released from Philadelphia county jails between March 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021. People were encouraged to personally determine how they would use the funds to support their reentry.
A total of nearly 1,200 payments were distributed to eligible Philadelphia residents. In addition to the payments of $500, individuals were connected to resources that included supportive housing, employment, family reunification, and other benefits.
Why was the program created?
Philadelphians reentering during COVID-19 faced many difficulties, such as:
- Living in a congregate setting while in custody.
- Returning to families and communities impacted by COVID-19.
- Increased uncertainty created by the pandemic.
- High unemployment.
- Widespread financial insecurity.
- Reduced access to support services and overburdened social service systems.
- Reduced access to benefits available to the general public.
ORP focused on individuals released from the Philadelphia Department of Prisons because it is our mission to do as much as we can to support individuals released from our jail system, especially during this ongoing pandemic.
How to contact the Office of Reentry Partnerships for reentry support
Although the Reentry Payment Program is over, the Office of Reentry Partnerships is open and available to provide any other type of reentry support including record expungement/pardon services. You can contact ORP by calling 215-683-3370 or by emailing orp@phila.gov.
