Returning Citizens Program
ACT's Returning Citizens Program engages individuals who are six months to a year from being released and/or are currently in reentry programs. Using the ACT's Connecticut Money School curriculum, the program will focus on preventing soon-to-released individuals from struggling with money or other financial issues. Bills and debts DO accumulate during incarceration. Struggle with financial barriers for the re-entry community increases recidivism rates. For example, people who have been incarcerated have a 69% drop in credit scores, resulting in both pre and post-incarceration debts, which impact access to housing, employment, and financial products, and increases the likelihood of recidivism by 15–20%.
For more information on this program, please contact Dwight Davis at ddavis@act-ct.org or 860-951-2212 x231.
The goal of the program is to help returning citizens:
- Decrease Debt
- Increase Savings
- Increase Credit Scores
- Resolve Identity Theft Issues
- Connect to Safe and Affordable Bank Accounts
Additionally, through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program:
- Provide FREE tax preparation to individuals in the program
- Educate participants about taxes and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
- Ensure participants receive ALL credits they are eligible for
- Educate participants about the importance of keeping their identity safe
Road to Reentry Starts Here
Tax refunds can go towards paying down financial obligations, or can be transferred to commissary accounts to use towards the purchase of items needed, which will, in turn, be less of a financial burden on their families.
When returning citizens are a year to 6 months from being released, they can participate in our financial capability programming, apply for a Bank On certified checking account, and the monies from their refunds can be deposited into their new, affordable account.
