“Everybody in Pittsburgh is in a hurry to go nowhere fast.” — Tamie Gates
On October 16, Tamie Gates moved to Pittsburgh after serving 27 years in PA prisons, mostly at Cambridge Springs.
Tamie Gates spoke with Alan Lewandowski about coming home.
LGF: What would you want to tell someone planning to come home?
Tamie: If possible, make sure you get some computer classes before you get your release.
Even so, what you really need is internet classes. At the moment, those are not offered, and it is a disservice that it is not provided. I have a fair amount of computer literacy and it’s still a big adjustment for me coming out here where everything is on a computer. Get as much computer experience as you can.
Also, if you’re relocating to a new area, get as much information about the area as you can before your release. It would be great if you are able to get street maps.
The prison really doesn’t prepare you to be successful out in the world, and it is not the concern of the institution.
LGF: So you can’t get maps on the inside?
Tamie: You can look at the atlas in the library or look at a globe. But there is no way to get street maps and bus maps that will actually show where you will be living and need to go, which would be very valuable tools for preparation.
Another thing is be prepared to be thrifty.
I took a money smart class at Cambridge Springs before I left, but they should do a re-entry class demonstrating to people the prices of objects in the outside world. So you can understand ahead of time how much you’ll need to budget for the things you might need.
Or you can just shop at the dollar store.
LGF: What prices shocked you the most?
Tamie: A gallon of milk, a loaf of bread, and the cost of lunch meat- even baloney. Who knew it could be so high for baloney- $5 a package?- that’s crazy. At the same time prepare yourself to be very patient, because things don’t move as fast as you think they will, and it could take you quite a while to acquire a job.
LGF: What are the biggest challenges in the job search?
Tamie: The internet. There is a lack of hand-written applications, and everywhere you go someone says “Apply online. Apply online!!!” Apply online means expect to spend an hour and a half on the computer, and you’ll hear back in a month. Be prepared to be patient.
In general, prepare as much as possible before you come home. Prepare for what you don’t think is going to happen. Get all your various resumes as ready as you can.
LGF: You have been volunteering regularly at two local shelters. What drew you to this kind of service.
Tamie: Because Felicia Chapman was part of the women’s shelter, and she used to come to see me at Cambridge Springs; and my friend Sharon Webb is part of the Shepherd’s Heart church.
Knowing those two people connected me directly to that aspect of community work.
I’ve always been a caretaker by nature, and while incarcerated I always participated in the various community projects we did up there. So it was natural for me to want to get involved with giving back to the community here; and I have two opportunities to do this; for the veterans and the homeless.
LGF: You told friends at Cambridge Springs that you wanted to buy a lottery ticket when you came out. Have you bought one yet?
Tamie: Yes. One. Just because I could. It was a wasted dollar. But if I had won $500, it wouldn’t have been.
Post Script: Tamie brought to our attention that the alloted time for meds after you are released is not enough. The prison will give you 30 days of your prescription. What they didn’t factor in is that it takes more than 30 days to sign up for health care, make a doctors appointment and get your prescription filled. Only if you hotfoot it to get signed up can you manage it just under the wire. 2 months would be sufficient. This is something to ask prison officials about and try to get this policy changed.
