On the Way Home

On The Way Home (OTWH) was born from lived experience, compassion, and a shared vision between two women who understood the urgent need for meaningful reentry support in Alabama. As advocates, and loved ones of individuals currently incarcerated in the Alabama prison system, we saw firsthand the struggles that incarcerated citizens face—not just behind bars, but during the difficult transition back into society. Our mission is to aid in reintegrating former incarcerated citizens into the community, reduce recidivism, and improve public safety through addressing the educational, employment, parole and probation, benefits, healthcare, housing, and family relationship needs of prisoners reentering society. We intend to accomplish this by providing a safe, secure, and supportive environment while they transition from prison to freedom. Our vision is to make lasting and effective impacts on our residents in an effort to lower recidivism, unemployment, and homelessness commonly seen in those who have been incarcerated. 

Out of this deeply personal awareness, we founded On The Way Home not simply as a reentry program, but as a community, a place of belonging, transformation, and hope. We envisioned an organization that would walk alongside returning citizens as they rebuilt their lives, helping them navigate the challenges of reentry while addressing the root causes that led to incarceration in the first place.

One of the biggest barriers we observed was the lack of effective, accessible reentry housing and assistance in one place. Too often, individuals were forced to travel between multiple agencies or organizations just to meet their basic needs, housing, healthcare, employment, and support services. This fragmented system often caused frustration, delay, or even relapse. In response, we committed to creating a centralized, comprehensive reentry hub where residents could access everything they need under one roof.

On The Way Home officially began as a grassroots initiative grounded in the belief that everyone deserves a second chance. Our focus is particularly on individuals who have served long sentences and are reentering a world that may feel completely unfamiliar. For them, OTWH provides a safe and supportive space to reestablish themselves as productive, empowered members of society.

We offer more than transitional support, we help individuals heal. Our services include counseling, education, workforce readiness, life skills training, and access to healthcare, housing, transportation, and other supportive resources. We walk with our residents every step of the way, addressing not only logistical needs but also emotional and psychological barriers to successful reintegration.

OTWH has grown from a vision into a mission-driven organization committed to breaking cycles of recidivism, unemployment, and homelessness. Every decision we make is grounded in empathy and respect for the lived experiences of our residents. We believe in their potential. We believe in their power to change. And we believe that with the right support, they can flourish.

This is more than a program. This is a movement to restore dignity, rebuild lives, and strengthen our communities, one returning citizen at a time