This second cohort of A Softer Landing Fund has three components: Guaranteed Basic Income, Welcome Home Love <3 and Commissary Fund. Each is setup to support people currently and formerly incarcerated with a goal of providing guaranteed basic income to every woman coming home after a life sentence in Pennsylvania.
Guaranteed Basic Income for one year for newly released people in our network, focusing on women with life sentences. Currently we are supporting newly released folks with $1,000 the first month and $500 each month after for a year. This costs $6,500 per person. We have one person signed up now and are expecting some commuted lifers home soon. To support 5 people for a year would cost $32,500.
Welcome Home Love <3 for people coming home from prison. In 2023 we gave 10 welcome packets to Za’kiyah House which included a $25 bus card & $50 cash card. This was super helpful! One month of support costs $750. We want to give 10 packets a month to Z’akiyah house. Also, we often provide support to people coming home by purchasing bus passes, menstrual products, etc. With additional funds we would be able to do more of this. This would cost $12,000.
Commissary Fund for people in prison with emphasis on women and trans prisoners with long sentences. We would like to give 30 incarcerated people $600 this year. This would cost $18,000.
We need to raise $62,500 to bring this to life.
How we started
A Softer Landing Fund began as a guaranteed income initiative to distribute recurring cash payments with no strings attached to formerly and currently incarcerated people who are connected with Let’s Get Free. This project was inspired by the Community Love Fund in Massachusetts led by The National Council and Families for Justice as Healing.
In 2022-2023 we raised almost $50,000 through crowdfunding, including a teach-in on guaranteed basic income we hosted as a fundraiser. In the pilot year, we distributed $46,000 to 34 people in the initial cohort. 7 formerly incarcerated women received $4,380 each, 6 of whom served 27 or more years. 28 currently incarcerated people received $600, 27 of whom have life sentences and 2 with 20 plus years. Out of 34 participants only two people chose to receive money monthly – one person on the outside and one person on the inside.
Some responses from outside participants include:
“I was able to be financially stable while on maternity leave and save the rest of the money to put towards buying a car.” – participant is 33 years old and served 18 months, her baby is turning one in feb. 2024
“Emotionally, it gave me some relief of worrying about how I was going to make it. After spending more than 3 and a half decades behind bars, I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the price of living in today’s society. I went to my doctor because of my anxiety, worrying about how I was going to do things the right way.” – participant is 66 years old and served 35 years
“I had just moved into a new apartment and the utility bills were far beyond what I had expected. This allowed me to pay those bills, buy air conditioners so the apartment would not be 95 degrees. I curtained all the windows and made it feel like a home for myself and my cat, and not just a place that we were sleeping in. I also used some to prepare the apartment for winter, no 700 gas bill this year. I was also able to put some to the side for a rainy day.” – participant is 52 years old and served 27 years
“I chose to receive the money all at once because I still feel traumatized by feeling deprived due to staying in prison so long. Never know when and if you’ll really get more of what you need. At the time my husband was taking me to work up town and then had to come back over town to work, then come back to pick me up from work and home. So the money helped tremendously in getting me a used car so I could free him up from physical strain. Being in our 60ies, public transportation wasn’t a big option for us.” – participant is 67 and served 40 years in prison
“I used the money for back bills and basic necessities. I even did some clothes shopping. Most importantly, I was able to give back by giving small monies to the homeless.” – participant is 66 and served 35 years
As for our incarcerated participants, overwhelming in their surveys they mentioned how receiving them money made them feel cared for and the most popular item bought was shoes.
Some responses from inside participants include:
“When I first received the email telling me about this program, I just sat there staring out into space because I couldn’t believe I was getting money. I mean, who sends inmates who have that type of sentence anything and not know them? I’m so used of the public thinking that I’m such a horrible criminal, that being nice to me is unfathomable. I had to read that letter over ten times before it actually sunk in. I spent the money on sick calls, phone cards, shoes, sweat suits, and of course a few fundraisers. and yes some commissary”
“PHYSICALLY: I was able to obtain things I needed as well as wanted. EMOTIONALLY: I felt as if someone(s) cared about my well being. MENTALLY: My thoughts were of feeling honored and special. It also took a lot of tension off of me because I got the things I needed and it made it easier to maintain or keep up on them. for instance: I’m usually down to 2 bars of soap when pay week comes, now I have about eight bars and I can just buy one to maintain. Sneakers: I had one pair now I have more then one and put some money aside for another pair. We get paid pennies as you know and sneakers nowadays cost my whole paycheck. I also filled my cabinet up because this food is not good for human consumption, too much soy/bad soy at that. I have a health issue and too much soy aides in me getting cancer. So I must limit myself to the prison’s cuisine of soy ala eato! Lol”
“I ordered sneakers, filled my cabinet, capsized on cosmetics and a phone card to call my daughter,which is still working! I also got myself a small access package,something I hadn’t got in years, couldn’t afford it.”
“I enrolled in Blackstone’s Paralegal correspondence course which was over $900 plus I had to pay $35 for my managerial Servsafe certification. So, getting the money in a lump sum helped to alleviate the stress of trying to keep up with making payments while studying for Paralegal and culinary arts. I am blessed to have support and Softer Landings to help further my education. There is not much to do as far as education in prison, especially if you owe student loans. I wished you guys of could help more people.Thank you, again.”
“The impact of receiving this money reduced the stress of not having sufficient funds to supply me with necessities and keep me in art supplies. I seriously do budget my money and use it wisely. I am an artist, not just for my prison job, but in my leisure time. I don’t pay for the supplies I use in Mural Arts, but I have to pay for art supplies for my personal use. The postage to mail out a painting has virtually doubled in the past couple years. My husband passed away recently. He was my only outside source of income. I’m 71 years old and I can’t afford NOT to work. PA does not have any retirement compensation for inmates who are up in age and maintaining a job becomes a physical challenge. I dread the day when I’m no longer able to work because the medical exception only provides $0.50 a day at which point I’m considered indigent.”
How will we do it
We can’t do it without you. We need your help to raise $62,500.
We are keeping our same GoFund me so you can see all the support our fund has had so far. We raised $19,665 as of the end of 2023. To reach our goal of $62,500 we need to reach $82,165.
Consider hosting a fundraiser for us?
Examples of fundraisers people have done for the fund.
- Astrology-based Perogi Parti
- Guaranteed Basic Income Teach-In Fundraiser
- Support from NEC’s Black Solidarity Economy Fund
Other Ways to Give besides Go Fund Me
We also accept donations through Venmo, Cashapp and Paypal. Please note “Softer Landing” in the memo and we will keep you updated on our fundraising progress.
- Send money to a friend on Paypal for no service fee -> letsgetfreepa@gmail.com
- Check: payable to Let’s Get Free mailed to: 460 Melwood Ave #300 Pittsburgh, PA 15213
- Venmo – @Lets-GetFree
- CashApp – $letsgetfreepgh
