About

Who We Are

Our Background

Pulling from the negative experience garnered from women transitioning from Prison to Half-Way Houses, and from Prison and Half-Way Houses back into the community; seeing the difficulty experienced by these women, as brought on by their respective Parole/Probation Officers and societal judgement; thus creating recurring recidivism, we decided that something needed to be done.
The system set up to re-integrate women back into society has failed them! The Criminal Justice system has touted re-integration, which is a myth.
Women, who happens to be the key parent, goes to prison where they come out more criminally inclined and exasperated. Their children end up in Foster Care, with little chance of getting them back on release. There is no help or guidance for these women, who, due to lack of employment, training, safe, affordable housing, 30% eventually ends up back in prison within 6 months of release, while another 15% within a year, due to minor infractions or “the return to the familiar”.

On release from prison/jail, each woman each woman is given a “Voucher” (to The 2nd Take Boutique), with proof of institutional release, which will allow them to shop independently for items  they will need to make a new start.  Vouchers varies according to need and family size.  There is no greater boost to one’s self-esteem, than independence in any form.. 

We also provide clothing and/or household items to individual in the surrounding community who are in need due to lack of financial resources.  This can be taken care of by contacting our administrator to make arrangement..

 care packages are also provided for recently released women to help with their new start; these packages are based on availability, based on donations . 

We offer a safe space for women to drop in,  meet, and vent without judgement, as they share their experiences inside and outside of the criminal justice system.

Our  support group, led by our peer group and license professional, is conducted once per week..  Please let us know if you would like to participate.  

Meals and Care packages are put together and distributed once per year (usually during the month of June/July) to the homeless by our dedicated volunteers.

Community meals are provided during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter from monies provided by donations, or from various activities put on by the Foundation.

Our Approach

We facilitate safe learning spaces

The Second Chance Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Scarborough, Ontario.

Currently, we are in partnership with the East Scarborough Storefront, and TCHC, who provides us with much needed free space to facilitate our training, recreational, and education programs.

01.

— Our Mission

Helping each woman, through education, training, and support, to build a successful life for themselves and or their children.
02.

— Our Vision

To make a difference in a woman’s life, one woman at a time.
03.

— Our Story

Many of our members and volunteers are comprised of women who have been previously incarcerated, struggled for acceptance after incarceration, know the difficulty and struggle to reclaim and rebuild their life after incarceration.


They have struggled to come to grip with the shame, humiliation borne from rejection, and isolation due to incarceration; with no help The glaring truth is, the justice system is fallible, it fails these women at virtually every point in and out of the system, that has been set up to “help” them.

Women are at an economic social disadvantage, they suffer from substance abuse, poverty, violence, and various traumas.  With the root causes such as poverty, marginalization, inequality, mental health, coupled with other social issues, allows the women population in prison to continue to grow and flourish; TSCF is attempting to put a wedge to the “turnstile” with our organization.

 

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Come check out our thrift shop!

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