Department of Correctional Services Grants $1.8M to Center for People in Need

The Center for People in Need (cfpin.org) recently received a grant of $1.785 million from the Nebraska Department of Correctional Service’s Vocational and Life Skills Program (VLS) to provide critical reentry services to soon-to-be-released and formerly incarcerated individuals. The Center will receive $595,000 annually, renewable for the next three years, to support their Tackling Recidivism and Developing Employability (TRADE) program.

TRADE provides job-skill training and community support to help formerly incarcerated individuals reestablish themselves and earn a stable income. Participants in the TRADE program may receive training in forklift operation or welding, and new this year, Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) or online classes from toolingu.com, an online manufacturing training company.

“Training and education is crucial to reducing recidivism,” said Chris Funk, executive director of the Center. “With the TRADE program, we provide for an individual’s basic needs, like food and clothing, while connecting them to the job skills necessary to find and hold meaningful employment through reentry and beyond.”

Services offered through VLS and the Center’s TRADE program are available at no cost to participants. Individuals may access the services for up to 18 months after release. In 2019, 351 individuals participated in the TRADE program.

The Center for People in Need is a community-based nonprofit dedicated to helping low-income people achieve economic independence. For more information, visit cfpin.org.