organizational news
Testimonial
I am writing this as I currently reside at the BAFC house, a private transition home. It has turned to be the best option for me.
A little of my back story will provide context for those weighing the pros and cons between state funded and privately owned transition homes.
I paroled Dec. 06, 2022 from California state prison. I'd served 19 years total off a life sentence that was commuted by the courts. I was 22 years old when I got incarcerated and 41 when I finally was released.
Since I had no close relatives or friends who could've been willing or able to offer a place to stay. I signed onto the housing program designed by CDCR and facilitated by the Parole Agency.
After serving such a lengthy sentence I was under the impression that a state ran transition facility would be best for me. I'd hoped one would help me re-adapt and, aptly put, "transition" back into society. However, as I've experienced, it is not the goal of CDCR to help formally incarcerated people as much as it is to secure government funding and bureaucratic support.
Because housing for me couldn't have been immediately found in San Joaquin County I was released to a drug rehab facility in Stockton. There I was surrounded by addicts of a totally different caliber of mind. As to where I had been to the place I've come mentally and spiritually, those individuals had not yet encountered. That had become a drawback because in such a setting I was severely hindered. For one reason, from what I know now, drug rehabs have very stringent policies. There is very very little connection allowed with the outside world. There is even less movement allowed as far as exiting to handle your business. It is understandable when dealing with habitual drug addicts, however, it is not fitting for an individual recently paroled. In closing the chapter on my stay at that facility, I'd ended up without any gain. I was there for 3 months and never gotten remotely established. No California ID, SS card, EBT, job applications; zero done.
After complaint on top of complaint the Parole officer placed me in an actual transition home, the Franklin House. There I was given more freedom to go and come as I please with respect to the curfew. I'd gotten everything I had to do done within a month. I got my identification documents in order and applied for EBT which would help me out while I secured a job. Shortly I'd gotten a warehouse job working the graveyard shift within my second month. Yet, with all this accomplished remember it was a state ran home. Thus, there were many unnecessary therapy sessions mandated to attend. These sessions were comprised of a counselor who essentially led a group (of formally incarcerated people) and followed an itinerary developed by some division within CDCR. Much of which was cut, paste, and copy from all the basic workshops that've been in circulation throughout state prisons for the last 30 years or so. Group attendance and participation was mandatory. And, consequently superseded all other priorities. No doubt, a CDCR contract guised to further secure greater funding. The drawbacks came in here when I was feeling mental fatigue from working graveyard and I was forced to continue attending the group sessions. It would interfere with the little time in the day I had to rest or get other things done such as laundry, eating, visiting family, applying for college; etc. I received numerous threats of being kicked out of the house if I didn't keep my attendance up. Which was very disheartening being that I was trying my hardest to becoming successful in my new found freedom. I'd witnessed one person actually get kicked out and wound up homeless for a couple weeks because he'd missed a couple sessions. His hard work to acquire a job and other accomplishments were never given consideration. I knew I had to get out of there before I ended up on the street myself.
Through my good friend Deandrea Farlow I was put into contact with Simon Liu. Which is my initial entry into the BAFC house. I've been at BAFC for a year now. There is no negative influence from the CDCR. It is privately owned and operated by people without an agenda. It is not ran by money motivated bureaucrats or a division of CDCR. There's no hoops, bells, or whistles attached. Here I was provided the full opportunity to thoroughly pursue my goals of sustainable employment and a savings. In which I'm now almost able to be on my own financially. Yet, what has turned out most promising is that BAFC helped connect myself and other guests with further resources upon leaving the house when our time is up. With seemingly little they have done more for me than both facilities in Stockton. In conclusion, a privately operated transition home has the liberty to be flexible with others without deviating from the cuase to help others. As opposed to a state owned or ran facility where the problem of institutionalism muddies the ethics involved.
By: Andre Miloslavich