MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — Mecklenburg County is opening a new resource to help formerly incarcerated people get back on their feet.
The Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) processes roughly 13,000 inmate releases every year. Now, the new Post Release Resource Center is aimed at helping those former inmates apply for jobs as well as get support for mental health and substance abuse.
The center is specifically designed to serve as a one-stop resource hub so people can have a safe and supportive place with familiar MCSO staff to take their next steps and help reduce recidivism in Mecklenburg County.
"Reentry can be an overwhelming process for many individuals who feel unprepared to navigate the system," Sheriff McFadden said in a release. "The Post Release Resource Center aims to meet people where they are and help them rebuild their lives, all while enhancing public safety and community well-being."
The center is located at the former Weekender Reporting Center for the detention center off McDowell Street, and officially opened at 10 a.m. Monday.
MCSO was able to revitalize the space and improve their services due to a grant worth $40,000 from Lowe's Home Improvement. MCSO was one of 100 organizations in the country to receive the grant.