Imagine being released from prison with no contacts, a check for $25 and a prison uniform as your only clothing. This is the harsh reality many men and women face as they try to reenter society. Piedmont House, however, is there to help.
Located off Monticello Avenue in Charlottesville, Piedmont House is a private, non-profit organization that works to alleviate the strain put on nonviolent male felons trying to reestablish themselves in the working world by providing them with a home, food and general life skills.
Piedmont House Director Joe Soos has been trying to help these men become acclimated to their new life for the past 3.5 years.
"When the guys come to us they have nothing, just the clothes on their back, which is normally just a prison uniform," Soos said. "They are given a $25 check from the commonwealth of Virginia."
The house receives funding from the Virginia Department of Corrections to feed and provide laundry services and housing for up to 18 men; however, Soos said, it is barely enough.
"We have up to 18 non-violent male felons," Soos said. "We are paid $41.37 per day per guy from the DOC. You can't stay at a Motel 6 for that much money. Call it a magic act, but it all works."
Piedmont House's program involves a 90-day stay in which the residents find a job, work and save money so they can afford their own housing and pay their legal fees.
"We set up individual savings accounts for them from which they are allowed to draw $40 per week," Soos said.
Piedmont House Supervisor Birch Martin said problems can arise when the men are not able to make enough money to move out.
"We used to be able to freely ask for extensions, but because of budget cuts we can't take as many men and we have to cut down on our extensions. There are still some, though," Martin said. "We do everything we can to encourage them to save money so when they leave they can exist independently."
One of Piedmont House's residents, Rick Brewer, has been at the house for a month and a half, and has found the residence offers a good launching pad for his future plans.
"I guess coming out of the situation people like us are in, it's a good reentry program to save money and reenter society," Brewer said. "I'd like to get a place with a roommate and maybe enroll in school."
While Piedmont House provides some felons with opportunities after being released from prison, many others do not have the same privilege.
"There are no other halfway houses in Charlottesville," Soos said. "They don't have one for women or geriatric prisoners, and they should, because they are even in a more difficult situation. There are about a dozen halfway houses in the commonwealth."
Those who are able to participate in Piedmont House's program also have the opportunity to take advantage of the benefits the City of Charlottesville can provide.
"Because everything in Charlottesville is centrally located, it can be easy to get around, which is good for this type of program," Brewer said. "I can walk most everywhere I want, which is good because most of us have suspended licenses anyway."
Brewer noted that he would like to remain in Charlottesville after his stay at the Piedmont House, noting he used to live in the city.
Another Piedmont House resident, Tony Williams, however, said he is looking forward to returning to his family in St. Louis. Williams said he came to Piedmont House because he does not want to go back down a destructive road.
"I've done a lot of stuff wrong," Williams said. "I've lost a lot of people, I've missed graduations, nieces and nephews being born over the years that I was never there to see. My mom was really the only one there to support me through the situation. A lot of people see being locked up as a joke, but I don't see it like that at all. I don't want to jeopardize my freedom anymore."
While Piedmont House is working to help Williams and others, last spring, the University service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega, gave Piedmont House a helping hand by making additions to and renovating the organization's house.
"The reason we went there was because it was definitely a place that needs help and doesn't get it, because people don't think of them when they are looking to contribute to the community," said Alpha Phi Omega member Polina Rovner. "We also wanted to give them a better place to live, because it was really old."
Rovner and several other APO members built a shelter for the weights and workout equipment outside.
"The old weights were rusted because of the rain and weather, so we built a shelter so they could be protected," Rovner said. "Another brother donated a lot of newer weights as well. Lifting weights is a big activity for them on their off-time."
By offering benefits both small and large to its residents, Piedmont House has contributed to the community by giving some men the chance to get back on their feet and start over in their lives. It's a chance Soos said they are fortunate to have.
"There is a huge segment of the population that [were] nonviolent prisoners, and a lot of those folks don't have the benefit of going to a halfway house," he said. "These men are very lucky for a second chance"
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