Sweeney Visits Volunteers of America’s Safe Return Facility

Trenton – Senate President Steve Sweeney visited Volunteers of America’s Safe Return facility in Trenton today where he learned about the services they offer and discussed their plans for expansion.

“The Safe Return program is doing powerful work in their focus areas of the state, and I look forward to seeing the impact their expansion has,” said Senator Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland). “By expanding their services to more counties they will be able to change the lives of even more New Jerseyans looking to regain their footing after incarceration. That is why I made sure we increased their funding in this year’s budget and why I will fight to ensure they receive the money they were promised.”

Safe Return is a reentry program which provides treatment, housing, and employment for individuals returning to Atlantic City, the City of Trenton or Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem Counties following incarceration. Safe Return conducts targeted outreach aimed at getting people off the street and into treatment and employment. Safe Return’s immediate, direct services paired with individualized treatment planning afford participants the opportunity to thoroughly reintegrate back into their communities and achieve fulfilling, independent lives.

“We are excited about the prospect of growing our Safe Return program and we are grateful for the steadfast advocacy of the Senate President,” said Daniel Lombardo, President and CEO of Volunteers of America Delaware Valley. “The assistance we provide to formerly incarcerated individuals, and the investments we make in them, will pay off in the long run, and by expanding our services we’ll be able to reach even more people in need.”

Volunteers of America provides community-based assistance to populations in need so that they can lead self-fulfilled, independent lives.

For someone to be eligible for the Safe Return program they must have been released from prison or jail in the last three years and must be an adult ex offender under no parole supervision.