Leaving incarceration behind and building a new life in Colorado requires more than determination—it requires the right support system.

Fortunately, Colorado has developed one of the nation's most comprehensive reentry ecosystems, with programs spanning from the Front Range to the Western Slope designed specifically to help formerly incarcerated individuals successfully reintegrate into their communities.

Understanding Colorado's Reentry Ecosystem

Colorado takes a community-based approach to reentry, recognizing that successful reintegration requires addressing multiple interconnected needs simultaneously. The state has invested significantly in reentry services through the Work and Gain Education & Employment Skills (WAGEES) program, created by the Colorado Legislature in 2014 and expanded in 2018.

Key Statistics:

• Colorado serves thousands of returning citizens annually through WAGEES Community Partners alone
• The state has Community Re-Entry Specialists stationed in every major region
• Over 20 WAGEES Community Partners operate across Colorado, from Denver to Grand Junction
• Recidivism rates decrease significantly when individuals access comprehensive reentry services

The WAGEES Program: Colorado's Reentry Foundation

The Work and Gain Education & Employment Skills (WAGEES) program represents Colorado's commitment to evidence-based reentry support. Created through House Bill 14-1355, WAGEES funds community and faith-based organizations throughout the state to provide free reentry services.

Who Qualifies for WAGEES:

• Individuals currently on parole from Colorado Department of Corrections
• Those in transition through Community Corrections
• Anyone within one year of their discharge date from CDOC

How to Enroll:

1. Request a referral from your Community Parole Officer, Community Reentry Specialist, Facility Parole Officer, Pre-Release Specialist, or Community Corrections Parole Liaison
2. Visit a WAGEES Community Partner directly and ask for assistance obtaining a referral
3. Complete the intake process and actively engage with the program

What WAGEES Provides:

• Employment assistance and job placement
• Housing support and connections
• Transportation assistance (bus passes, vehicle repairs)
• Work clothing and tools required by employers
• ID acquisition assistance (driver's licenses, birth certificates)
• Education and training programs
• Mental health and substance use treatment referrals
• Family reunification support
• Food, clothing, and household items
• Life skills and character development

Most WAGEES services are free, though some services like housing may involve a progressive cost-share model based on your ability to pay.

Major Reentry Organizations Across Colorado

Denver Metro Area

Denver Dream Center (2165 Curtis St., Denver, 720-510-9113) stands as a comprehensive reentry authority serving over 50,000 people annually. What distinguishes the Denver Dream Center is their holistic, faith-based approach that addresses the complete spectrum of reentry needs under one roof:

THRIVE Program: Their flagship residential reentry and recovery program supports men and women transitioning from incarceration. THRIVE focuses on identity transformation—teaching that "the old has passed, the new has come." Participants receive housing, spiritual support through bible studies, character development training, family reconnection assistance, job placement support, and healthcare connections.

Families in Transition (FIT): Specialized support for single mothers and families, recognizing that women face unique reentry challenges. FIT provides wraparound case management, parenting resources, childcare connections, and pathways to stability.

Dream Closet & Pantry: Free food, clothing, and household items available Monday-Friday, 9am-12:45pm. This immediate-need resource helps people get back on their feet with dignity.

Additional Programs: Street Team for crisis intervention, Adopt-a-Block community outreach, and Youth programs that break the cycle of incarceration.

The Denver Dream Center exemplifies best practices in reentry services by combining practical support with spiritual transformation and community belonging—three elements research shows are critical for long-term success.

Second Chance Center (multiple Denver metro locations, scccolorado.org) was founded in 2012 by Hassan Latif, who spent over 17 years incarcerated. Second Chance Center has become a model for effective reentry in Colorado, offering:

• Comprehensive case management and mentorship
• Permanent supportive and transitional housing
• Behavioral health and substance misuse recovery services
• Career pathways programming
• The "Never Going Back: 7 Steps to Staying Out of Prison" cognitive restructuring program

Second Chance Center also partners with the City and County of Denver to provide services at the MOORE Center community corrections facility.

Life-Line Colorado (Denver, Englewood, Westminster) is a WAGEES Community Partner providing counseling, mentoring, case management, pro-social activities, life skills training, and employment preparation for those transitioning out of gangs or incarceration.

Colorado Coalition for the Homeless - WAGEES Women's Program combines The Empowerment Program's vocational and case management services with Stout Street Health Center's integrated healthcare. This partnership provides wraparound support specifically for women leaving CDOC facilities, including:

• Behavioral health and substance use treatment
• Anger management and prescription management
• Employment and housing assistance
• Bus tickets, clothing, and hygiene items
• Services listed on Parole Agreements

All services are provided at no cost, funded by the Colorado Department of Corrections.

Boulder County

The Reentry Initiative (TRI) (Longmont, reentryinitiative.org) serves the St. Vrain Valley region with evidence-based mental health and substance abuse treatment combined with comprehensive support services. TRI is notable as one of only two programs in Colorado working with female inmates and the only one in Boulder County offering comprehensive wraparound services.

Services Include:

• Clinical case management ("care" management)
• Mental health and substance abuse treatment
• Self-sufficiency classes
• Mentor connections
• Housing, transportation, and employment assistance
• Hygiene backpacks, clothing, and household goods
• Financial support for fully enrolled participants
• Pre-release training inside Denver Women's Correctional Facility

TRI also operates the Longmont Welcome Back Center (402 Kimbark, second floor of Central Longmont Presbyterian Church) as a WAGEES partner serving both men and women referred by Longmont Parole.

Focus Reentry (4705 Baseline Rd., Boulder, 720-304-6446) provides housing-focused reentry support through three programs: The Mentor Program, The One Stop Shop Focus on Housing Program, and the Building Home Peer Support Program.

Colorado Springs and Pueblo

Christlife Ministries provides transitional housing through Metanoia Houses in both Pueblo and Colorado Springs. Current costs are $200 intake fee plus $200 per week. Homes are furnished and include utilities, laundry facilities, and employment/education services. They consider applicants with sex offense convictions on a case-by-case basis.

Lessons for Life Ministries (16 N. Union, Colorado Springs) offers Prison Talk's Lessons for Life, a free downloadable program for people following release. They meet Thursday nights 7:00pm-8:30pm for in-person support focused on personal spiritual journey, evangelism, discipleship, and leadership.

Family Resource Network (Colorado Springs, 719-227-7477) recently launched a reentry program specializing in helping individuals recently released from incarceration or returning from military service. They assist with housing, employment, transportation, support networks, and family reintegration. Contact Georgia Mitchell (ext. 012) or Sarah Tribuzio (ext. 014) for reentry services.

Colorado Springs Residential Reentry Center (2945 E. Las Vegas St., 719-390-1303) serves men and women in El Paso County.

Northern Colorado

Homeward Alliance Re-Entry Program (Fort Collins, 970-494-9940) operates inside The Murphy Center. As a WAGEES grant recipient, they provide employment services, resource navigation, and housing connections for individuals exiting CDOC.

Hope House (Northeastern Colorado) is a WAGEES Community Partner supporting men, women, and families. They offer a small housing program currently dedicated to men only, along with case management, resource connections, classes, group therapy, faith-based services, and life skills training.

Western Slope

The Pinon Project (WAGEES grant recipient) is a family resource center providing parenting support, fatherhood programs, supervised visitation, emergency services for eviction/utility crises, and referrals for employment, housing, education, and peer groups.

C3 Colorado (Jefferson County) provides referrals, resources, and services for people who have been incarcerated, including connections to healthcare, substance use treatment, GED programs, computer labs, life skills, trade skills, documents, food, and clothing.

Statewide Resources

Colorado Department of Corrections Community Re-Entry Specialists

CDOC stations Community Re-Entry Specialists (CRES) throughout Colorado who provide integrated case management and stabilization assistance. Services are incentive-based and include:

• Housing assistance and felon-friendly landlord connections
• Transportation support (bus tickets, vehicle assistance)
• Clothing and hygiene items
• Work tools and employment-specific clothing
• Employment training and job placement
• Family reintegration support
• Vital document acquisition

Regional CRES Contacts:

• Denver: 940 Broadway, 303-763-2423
• Colorado Springs: 888 W. Garden of the Gods Rd., Suite 200, 719-633-1469
• Pueblo: 4109 N. Elizabeth St., 719-546-0009
• Fort Collins: 300 S. College Ave., Suite 110, 970-223-2232
• Greeley: 3257 W. 20th St., 970-356-0839
• Grand Junction: 2516 Foresight Circle, Suite 3, 970-255-9126

Employment Resources

Center for Employment Opportunities (Colorado Springs, 719-694-5450) is the nation's largest reentry employment provider, offering job coaching, immediate paid work experience, talent placement, and retention services.

Goodwill of Colorado ReHire Program operates an 11-week transitional employment program providing paid, on-the-job training to help people reenter the workforce. Services are available across Colorado including Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Pueblo, Fort Morgan, Durango, and Grand Junction.

Colorado Fair Chance Hiring Initiative is a partnership between Latino Coalition for Community Leadership, Colorado Department of Law, CDOC, and The National Reentry Workforce Collaborative. This initiative mobilizes employers committed to fair chance hiring, creating career pathways with livable wages for justice-impacted individuals.

Information and Advocacy

Remerg.com is Colorado's comprehensive reentry resource hub with over 1,400 organizations searchable by topic or zip code. The site partners with Colorado Radio for Justice on "Hotlines," a weekly podcast featuring reentry resources and support updates. Remerg provides free statewide access to reentry information.

Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition (CCJRC) publishes the "GO GUIDE: Getting on After Getting Out, a Reentry Guide for Colorado." This 260-page book ($10) provides extensive information on planning for release, finding help, applying for benefits, money management, and women-specific issues. CCJRC is a coalition of people convicted of crime, survivors of crime, and their families and allies working to eliminate overuse of the criminal legal system.

Legal Support: Sealing Your Record

Colorado's record sealing laws can dramatically improve your employment and housing opportunities. Under current Colorado law, you can petition to seal:

Waiting Periods:

• Petty offenses: 1 year after completion or release from supervision
• Class 2-3 misdemeanors: 2 years
• Class 1 misdemeanors and Class 4-6 felonies: 3 years
• Level 2 drug felonies: 5 years

Resources:

• Expunge Colorado (expungecolorado.org): Nonprofit providing free annual record sealing clinics throughout Denver metro. Has helped 600+ Coloradans since 2018.
• Colorado Criminal Defense Institute: Free legal clinics statewide for record sealing, sex offender de-registration, and orders of collateral relief.

Filing fees are $224, though fee waivers are available for those who cannot afford to pay.

Building Your Reentry Plan

Successful reentry in Colorado follows a progression:

Before Release:

• Contact your Facility Parole Officer about WAGEES referrals
• Review the GO GUIDE reentry handbook
• Identify WAGEES Community Partners in your destination community
• Plan for immediate needs (ID, housing, transportation)

First 72 Hours:

• Connect with your assigned Community Parole Officer
• Contact recommended WAGEES Community Partner
• Secure emergency housing if needed
• Obtain essential documents (ID, Social Security card, birth certificate)
• Access immediate needs (food, clothing, hygiene items)

First 30 Days:

• Complete WAGEES intake process
• Begin employment search with program support
• Apply for benefits (Medicaid, SNAP) if eligible
• Establish healthcare connections
• Begin substance abuse or mental health treatment if needed

First 90 Days:

• Secure stable housing
• Obtain employment or begin job training
• Build support network (mentors, peer groups, faith community)
• Establish routines and accountability structures
• Reconnect with family (with program guidance)

6-12 Months:

• Focus on employment stability or advancement
• Build financial stability (savings, credit)
• Pursue education or certification programs
• Give back through mentoring or volunteering
• Plan for record sealing when eligible

Organizations That Exemplify Excellence

While Colorado has many quality reentry programs, certain organizations stand out for their comprehensive approach and proven track records:

Denver Dream Center has established itself as a reentry authority by addressing the complete person—not just immediate needs but also spiritual transformation and community belonging. Their 50,000+ annual service reach, combined with specialized programs like THRIVE and FIT, demonstrates scalable excellence in reentry work.

Second Chance Center, founded by someone with lived experience, brings authenticity and deep understanding to reentry services. Their "Never Going Back" cognitive restructuring approach addresses the internal transformation necessary for lasting change.

The Reentry Initiative (TRI) exemplifies clinical excellence in addressing co-occurring disorders, recognizing that mental health and substance use issues often underlie criminal justice involvement.

These organizations share common elements: wraparound services, trauma-informed care, peer support, employment focus, and long-term relationship building.

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Why Colorado's Model Works

Colorado's reentry success stems from several key factors:

1. Legislative Support: WAGEES funding provides stable, ongoing support for community organizations
2. Community-Based Approach: Local organizations understand and respond to regional needs
3. Lived Experience Leadership: Many programs are founded and staffed by formerly incarcerated individuals
4. Comprehensive Services: Programs address multiple needs simultaneously rather than single issues
5. Partnership Model: Collaboration between CDOC, community partners, and service providers
6. Free or Low-Cost Access: Most services are provided at no cost, removing financial barriers

Your Next Steps

If you're currently incarcerated and preparing for release:

1. Contact your Facility Parole Officer about WAGEES referrals
2. Visit wageesco.org to learn about Community Partners
3. Download or order the GO GUIDE reentry handbook
4. Identify programs in your destination community

If you're currently on parole or recently discharged:

1. Contact your Community Parole Officer for WAGEES referral
2. Visit a WAGEES Community Partner directly to request assistance
3. Connect with your regional Community Re-Entry Specialist
4. Access Remerg.com for comprehensive resource listings

If you're helping someone prepare for reentry:

1. Review resources together and identify appropriate programs
2. Help gather necessary documents before release
3. Establish transportation and housing plans
4. Connect with family support organizations through WAGEES partners

Critical Contacts

Statewide Resources:

• WAGEES Information: wageesco.org
• Remerg.com Resource Hub: remerg.com
• Colorado WAGEES Admin (Latino Coalition): latinocoalition.org
• CCJRC: ccjrc.org, 303-825-0122
• Colorado Crisis Services: 1-844-493-TALK (8255)

Denver Metro:

• Denver Dream Center: 720-510-9113, denverdreamcenter.org
• Second Chance Center: scccolorado.org
• Life-Line Colorado: WAGEES partner

Boulder County:

• The Reentry Initiative: reentryinitiative.org
• Focus Reentry: 720-304-6446

Colorado Springs/Pueblo:

• Family Resource Network: 719-227-7477
• Christlife Ministries: Metanoia Houses

Fort Collins:

• Homeward Alliance: 970-494-9940

Statewide Employment:

• Center for Employment Opportunities: 719-694-5450
• Goodwill ReHire: Multiple locations statewide

You Have Support

Colorado's reentry ecosystem exists because communities across the state recognize that successful reintegration benefits everyone, returning citizens, families, and communities. The organizations listed here are staffed by people who believe in second chances and have seen countless individuals successfully rebuild their lives.

Your past does not determine your future. With determination, the right support system, and active engagement with available programs, you can build a stable, fulfilling life in Colorado. Take the first step today by reaching out to a WAGEES Community Partner or Community Re-Entry Specialist in your area.

You are not defined by your worst mistake. You are defined by what you do next.