Stefanie lives in Orlando and has spent much of her life fighting for returning citizens. She knows firsthand some of the challenges people formerly incarcerated face.

Stefanie says she made a mistake over 30 years ago and has been paying the price ever since. After her conviction, one of her biggest hurdles was finding a place to live for her and her three boys. She says although she’s served her time, she still feels like she’s being punished.

According to the Prison Policy Initiative, formerly incarcerated people are almost ten times more likely to experience homelessness than the general public.

Stefanie lives in Orlando and has spent much of her life fighting for returning citizens. She knows firsthand some of the challenges people formerly incarcerated face.

Stefanie says she made a mistake over 30 years ago and has been paying the price ever since. After her conviction, one of her biggest hurdles was finding a place to live for her and her three boys. She says although she’s served her time, she still feels like she’s being punished.

According to the Prison Policy Initiative, formerly incarcerated people are almost ten times more likely to experience homelessness than the general public.

She says no landlord would rent to her. When she did find a place to live, it was in a bad neighborhood and wasn’t worth the money.

She’s now using some of the challenges she faced to help others, returning citizens with mental illnesses, and has become a Guardian Advocate for her son. She says everyone wants to be forgiven.

She says no landlord would rent to her. When she did find a place to live, it was in a bad neighborhood and wasn’t worth the money.

She’s now using some of the challenges she faced to help others, returning citizens with mental illnesses, and has become a Guardian Advocate for her son. She says everyone wants to be forgiven.