After September of 2024, the Wisconsin Department of corrections closed the transitional living facility in the city of Ashland. The funding was cut off and formally incarcerated individuals are now being released homeless into the area (or being held past their release dates). 

This has contributed to the housing crisis in the Chequamegon Bay Area. Free Wisconsin has negotiated a Memorandum of Understand with the City of Ashland for mutual aid with this project to ensure that justice-involved individuals do not add to this problem.

All the organizers and volunteers of this program are either criminal justice impacted individuals or work directly with that population. A reentry support specialist is employed part-time to assist residents, manage the house, and provide connections to community resources.

This program provides participants supplementary food, bus passes, and a clothing exchange for them to access. Free Wisconsin offers one-on-one peer support to all residents to aid in service delivery. 

The Reintegration Center serves all criminal justice impacted individuals that are being released from incarceration and experiencing housing instability or homelessness. Special focus is given towards veterans, those with mental health challenges, and immigrant populations.  

This program houses 6-8 participants at a time at the center and impacts roughly 14-20 individuals per month. We do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected class.