By David Bailey | I am extremely grateful. I am grateful to express my gratitude and appreciation to all the people and organizations who provided encouragement, guidance, information, and financial resources enabling me to break free from the hopelessness of “recidivism,” which is “the revolving door syndrome.”
Bailey
I am convinced that because of my inability to overcome homelessness, and being mired in the socio-economic strata which precluded constant examination by law enforcement, that without GRIP (Gwinnett Reentry Intervention Program), and the United Way, I would either be institutionalized, hospitalized, or deceased.
Upon my last and forever final incarceration at the Gwinnett County Detention Center, I noticed a sheet of paper taped to the Deputy’s Station which had “GRIP” on it. I then requested more information and subsequently met with Deputy Roderick Beard from inmate services. He demonstrated genuine concern for my situation and provided me with the applications for several post-incarceration programs.
To my surprise, within two days I was visited by Ms. Bridgett Jones, who informed me that I was a viable candidate for GRIP. She also informed me that GRIP is a United Way sponsored program that will provide transitional housing, and help me with my goals of replacing my lost birth certificate, Social Security card, driver’s license, etc. In addition, they would direct me to appropriate organizations to facilitate the medical care and surgery I required, the dental care I needed, and letters of verification of homelessness. This enabled me to be accommodated by Grady Hospital, St. Joseph Mercy Care Clinic, and Georgia Law for the Homeless, the Social Security Administration, Viewpoint Health, and several other agencies.
This meeting with Ms. Jones (because of her level of concern, professionalism, and caring demeanor) incited in me a spark of hope that had been missing in recent years. I came away convinced that GRIP could be the safety net I desperately needed to reestablish the feeling of self-confidence and motivation I needed to stop merely existing, but to start living again.
I was released from jail 13 months later. Even though it was necessary for me to sit in the jail lobby for 15 hours before I was able to speak with Ms. Jones, I endured the wait and was grateful and relieved when the GRIP driver delivered me to a safe haven.
I can’t say that there were no setbacks, delays, or bumps in the road on my journey of accomplishing my goals. But, thanks to the encouragement and patience of Ms. Jones and Ms. Eizabeth Danley and their willingness to go the extra mile, GRIP enabled me to accomplish everything they promised and more.
I am humbly grateful for the GRIP program and the United Way. I also am appreciative with every private and governmental organization that assisted me in overcoming homelessness. I now have a renewed appreciation for life, and for generous people who care enough for people like me, to open their hearts and their hands in order to aid and assist organizations such as GRIP in rescuing others in need.
(Editor’s Note: Mr. Bailey has qualified for Social Security disability now and is in permanent housing in Norcross. The GRIP program points out that to house an inmate in Gwinnett County Detention Center costs $48 a day, or $17,520 a year. Since the introduction of GRIP in Gwinnett in 2011, some 466 people have been assisted, with a recidivism rate of only 8.2 percent compared to a national recidivism rate of 67 percent.–eeb)
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