Juan, a former truck driver from Louisiana, overcame a lot to get to this point but you’d never guess it by looking at his smile. Initially in custody on a 2014 probation violation, Juan became our client in March after the Court agreed to release him to us on an OR bond. An OR bond is a type of pretrial release when an individual has promised, in writing, to appear in court for all upcoming proceedings and the Court releases them on their “own recognizance.” This was made possible because our Justice Navigation Team. Our Justice Navigators provide support to individuals released on an OR bond and actively worked to facilitate OR bond releases during COVID-19.

At the Diversion Hub, Juan’s case management team worked on a service plan consisting of gaining employment, housing and continued stability. Juan moved in and out of shelters at first and found it difficult to navigate the criminal justice system and find stable employment without a stable place to live. His case management team used the Vulnerability Index – Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool (VI-SPADT) to assess his needs and worked with our onsite partner, @homelessalliance, to advocate for different housing options.

Now Juan’s face lights up as he puts the key in the door of his own place. He’s making plans for the future and he’s focused on maintaining a steady job. Ultimately, he’d like to get his Commercial Driver’s License reinstated and get back to truck driving. He’s excited to share his new home and stability with his family. He loves to cook and looks forward making kebabs out on the grill. He can’t wait to hang Christmas lights in December. With all these wonderful things to look forward to, he’s motivated and driven to keep going