http://www.elprofeusa.com/pdf/issue4_part1.pdf
Homeboy President Excited for County Contract
This past summer was not kind to Homeboy Industries, a Los Angeles nonprofit organization dedicated to helping former gang members turn their lives around through employment opportunities. In May, the organization was forced to lay off over 300 workers as well as close down some of the most significant services offered to those who truly wanted to improve their lives and remove themselves from their former lifestyles. The future of the organization looked bleak, as did the prospects for the many Los Angeles County residents who wanted to utilize the services offered by Homeboy Industries.
As the summer drew to a close, however, so did the financial woes that had plagued Homeboy Industries for the past four months, as Los Angeles County Supervisors awarded a 1.3 million dollar contract to the life changing non-profit organization.
When asked by El Profe about the new contract, Homeboy Industries President Carol Biondi was quite pleased. “Obviously we are thrilled not only for the money, but for the acknowledgement from the county.” Biondi said. She also noted that the new contract was “exciting on many levels.”
Biondi noted that the usage of the funds is “specific in the contract,” and that “the 1.3 million dollars will be used to provide services to 665 County residents”. Biondi also stated that the funding will go to “20 trainees’ salaries for jobs with Homeboy Industries.” The use of County finances to fund recovery programs is nothing new, and as Biondi told El Profe, “we are a gang recovery program.” Now that the contract with Los Angeles County is official, it is clear that the County is acknowledging the Homeboy Industries program.
According to Biondi, “the County (Los Angeles), can refer LA county residents, or we can serve LA county residents who come through the door.” Biondi is also optimistic that the contract will allow Homeboy Industries to “prove the public is safer” due to community based nonprofit organizations like Homeboy Industries. Biondi also told El Profe that “national research shows that community based organizations do a more successful job of keeping people out of jail than the government organizations.”
While a 1.3 million dollar contract is immense in it’s nature, Biondi revealed that a push from Los Angeles County supervisor Gloria Molina was responsible for getting the whole process started. “Gloria took the initiative and immediately had all member’s support.”
The long standing relationship between Homeboy Industries and Los Angeles County had a great deal to do with the contract, according to Biondi, who revealed that the Los Angeles County Probation camps for youths utilize the free tattoo removal service for the incarcerated minors who are looking to remove themselves from the gang lifestyle.
Though the contract is immense, it is only valid until June of 2011. This date does not dissuade Biondi, who is confident that the success of the program will ensure a contract renewal, as well as additional funding from the state of California, such as the Youthful Offender Block Grant, aimed at preventing re-incarceration among youthful offenders. According to Biondi, “Homeboy Industries has a 70 percent retention rate,” meaning that 70 percent of the people who utilize the programs offered are not re-incarcerated.
Overall, Biondi is optimistic that the contract will allow Homeboy Industries to continue contributing to the community in a significantly positive manner. Describing the contract as “a very exciting opportunity,” Biondi has not overlooked the simple, yet truly significant message that Homeboy Industries promotes, as she stated one of the core values that has changed the lives of countless program participants: “If they’re working, they wont be getting in trouble.”
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