Justice for Housing (J4H), one of United Way's 124 New Way Forward partners, is a grassroots organization providing housing and family reunification for Justice-Impacted Individuals (JIIs) in Massachusetts through policy, advocacy, and services. J4H advocates for the Housing First model, which prioritizes stable housing as the foundation for successful reentry into society. For many Formerly Incarcerated People (FIP), securing housing after incarceration is a major challenge. The Prison Policy Initiative reports that Massachusetts’ formerly incarcerated population is ten times more likely to experience homelessness than the general population, a disparity driven by discriminatory housing policies that limit access to both private and public housing, further perpetuating the homelessness crisis. 

Leslie Credle, CEO and Founder of Justice for Housing, shared the significance of the partnership with United Way, “Being chosen as a United Way partner is a major milestone for us. United Way has a respected status in philanthropy, and to be recognized by such an organization is truly a dream come true. This partnership validates the important work we're doing, and reaching these accomplishments in such a short time feels surreal,” said Credle.  

Leslie Credle, a formerly incarcerated black woman, channels her personal journey into her unwavering commitment to ending homelessness and housing discrimination for FIP. Her lived experience uniquely qualifies her to lead this mission—Leslie is not just an advocate but a member of the very community she seeks to uplift.  

When Leslie first conceived J4H, many doubted the feasibility of housing justice for justice-impacted individuals (JIIs). Critics told Leslie the issue was too complex, and that society wasn’t ready for such a transformative shift. Undeterred, Leslie pushed forward, overcoming systemic obstacles and creating housing opportunities for JIIs that didn’t exist before. The majority of J4H’s staff and board members are minorities, with 50% identifying as formerly incarcerated individuals, strengthening its grassroots foundation. 

Leslie Credle, CEO and Founder of Justice for Housing. “Being chosen as a United Way partner is a major milestone for us."

"I never imagined we’d be here, but the need is so great that I understand why we are. For too long, no one addressed the population we serve. Many believed it was impossible to house formerly incarcerated individuals—that landlords would never accept us. But we took on that challenge. I saw the need firsthand when I was in the halfway house, and it deeply affected me to witness the children and parents trapped in a cycle of being denied housing or the right to return to homes they already had. The collateral consequences of that left a lasting impact on our communities. The work we do is incredibly rewarding,” said Credle.  “Now, we’re seeing the real impact of our work, children thriving in school, parents launching their own businesses, and individuals becoming the best versions of themselves—if only given the chance.” Her words highlight the profound and often invisible consequences of housing discrimination. 

J4H tackles the problem from three angles:  

J4H’s holistic approach is exemplified by its 3 programs:  

In partnership with the Boston Housing Authority (BHA), SHARP offers the first set-aside housing vouchers in Massachusetts for Formerly Incarcerated People (FIPs). Clients receive 12-18 months of case management, financial support, healthcare, and wrap-around services like family reunification, job readiness, and financial empowerment. SHARP helps clients reintegrate into the community and build wealth through homeownership, allowing them to use their vouchers toward a mortgage and become homeowners. 

Statistics demonstrate SHARP’s impact: 100% of participants were housed, with a 0% recidivism rate. Additionally, 88% of participants have established relationships with healthcare centers, 81% have improved their credit scores, and 28 families have been reunited. SHARP has saved the Commonwealth $2.4 million.  

“Initially, you see the pain and trauma people carry—it’s heartbreaking. But by the exit interviews, the transformation is clear. Their self-esteem grows, their motivation returns, and they start to thrive. It’s beautiful. I’m so proud of the work we’re doing together," said Credle." “Our 0% recidivism rate is an achievement we’re incredibly proud of—four years later, we’re still at zero, which is something we never anticipated."  

Provides legal advocacy for JIIs facing housing discrimination or eviction due to Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) screenings. 

Offers temporary housing and stabilization services for 12 individuals returning to the community after incarceration. Brie’s House provides housing search support, financial resources, and a safe space to rebuild toward long-term success and permanent housing.  

J4H is a movement committed to decriminalizing housing and dismantling the systemic barriers that destabilize minority communities. Through storytelling and lived experiences, J4H demonstrates that housing for FIPs is not only possible but essential in reducing homelessness and recidivism. With education, advocacy, and critical housing services, J4H is driving systemic change for the justice-involved community.  

Leslie highlights the broader impact: “We need to stop criminalizing housing. It's time to look at the systemic issues that prevent people from getting stable, safe housing. When someone is released from incarceration, the first thing they need is a place to stay, and if they don’t have that, they are more likely to fall back into the system.” 

After spending two decades behind bars, Devon McNeil, also known as “Victory”, marked his fifth year of freedom in April—the longest he’s been free since he was 16. At 47, he reflects on the journey that began as a teenager caught in street life, which he later realized was built on empty promises. "I was a drug dealer; I thought I was a gangster, thinking I could live in the streets forever and that they would fulfill all my heart desired,” McNeil said. “But I didn’t know, until I knew, that that life was built on lies and cost me and my friends dearly—some even their lives," said McNeil. 

Devon McNeil, also known as “Victory”. Justice For Housing participant. His book, The Streets Lied and We Believed written while incarcerated and republished with J4H’s help

During his 20 years in prison, Devon deeply regretted his past and worked on transforming himself. However, upon his release, he faced overwhelming challenges. His mother had passed away while he was incarcerated, and he had no stable home. He was forced to choose between a shelter and moving in with his aunt, a woman he barely knew. While grateful for her support, Devon knew he needed more help to rebuild his life from scratch. "I was starting my whole life over and didn’t even know where I was going to begin. Where was I going to work? Where was I going to live?" said McNeil. 

Devon received unexpected help from Leslie Credle through Justice for Housing after meeting her at a college speaking engagement. Having faced her own hardships, Leslie saw potential in Devon and made him a promise: "If you have faith and believe in me, give me a year." A year later, Devon walked into Justice for Housing, moved by how far Leslie and her team had come. "I met this woman when she didn’t even have a nonprofit board, and here I was, walking through these doors to find she had a whole staff," said McNeil. Within six months, Devon had his own apartment and began rebuilding his future. Through Justice for Housing, he gained tools to pursue financial literacy, reconnect with his children, secure stable employment, and, most significantly, find purpose. 

Justice for Housing provided Devon with more than a roof over his head; they gave him the structure and support system needed to navigate the challenges of re-entering society after decades behind bars. " J4H completely altered my life. These humans have become my family. They see me, not just my past," said McNeil. "Even now, almost two years later, they continue to provide structure in my life."  

Devon received unexpected help from Leslie Credle through Justice for Housing after meeting her at a college speaking engagement.

Devon now works part-time at the Fields Corner Business Lab, helping nonprofits and startups. "The world needs to know about the work J4H does. I didn’t get here alone. J4H is life changing. I’m finally happy, and I haven’t been happy in a long time," he said. 

He now pays it forward through his nonprofit, Not On My Watch Mentoring, where he teaches inner-city youth trade skills like car detailing to build self-sufficiency. Sharing his own journey, he inspires change and shows that redemption is possible. His book, The Streets Lied and We Believed written while incarcerated and republished with J4H’s help, serves as a powerful tool for connecting with youth. “Writing this book was my way of taking accountability,” McNeil says. “It’s not just a story—it’s a message that anyone who’s lost can find their way back.” 

Devon believes programs like J4H are essential and need to be more widely available. "As we sit here this morning, think about how many men—whether they’ve been out for one month or 10 years—are struggling mentally with no one to turn to. The system, the way it’s designed, messes with your psyche and spirit. That’s the reality for so many," said McNeil.  

Alba Diaz knows this reality all too well. In 2015, she was incarcerated for nearly two years, and upon her release in 2017, she returned to a world that felt unrecognizable. Her three children had been separated, living with different family members, and her mother, who had been caring for her oldest daughter, passed away just days before Alba completed her sentence, leaving her with the painful loss of not being able to say goodbye. Struggling with no stable housing, Alba faced an uphill battle to reunite her family. 

Alba Diaz, Justice For Housing participant. Alba’s experience highlights the life-changing power of second chances, especially for those with criminal records.

Securing housing was the biggest obstacle in bringing her daughters back together. “You have to have good credit, a job, everything all lined up,” Diaz explained. “I didn’t have any of that.” With limited options, Alba moved into a shelter, a step that allowed her to reunite with her younger daughter, who had been living with her father.    

Through a friend, Alba connected with Justice 4 Housing (J4H), which has successfully housed 120+ Justice-Impacted Individuals. Leslie Credle became a vital advocate for Alba. “Leslie didn’t have to help me, but she did,” Diaz said. With Leslie’s advocacy and J4H’s support, Alba secured a Section 8 voucher, finally giving her and her family a stable home. "Now, I have a place I can call home without mice and cockroaches. If I didn’t get housing, I would have lost my oldest daughter,” Diaz shared. 

J4H also connected Alba with credit counseling, legal assistance to obtain her ID and social security card, and budgeting support. “I would never have been ready if it wasn’t for this program,” said Diaz. “I was lost, and I don’t know where I’d be today without it.” Since joining, her credit score has risen from the low 500s to over 700. Today, she lives in a beautiful duplex where her children each have their own room, with J4H providing furniture and food assistance when needed, bringing a sense of security she hadn’t felt in years. Alba now pays rent based on her income, and this support has been a turning point for her family. 

Reflecting on her journey, Alba acknowledges the tough choices she made while caught between poverty and survival. “People don’t always see this when we go to jail,” Diaz explained. “Yes, we did the crime, but we work on ourselves in there. I needed to make money for my kids, and poverty makes you do things you regret.” She believes programs like Justice for Housing prevent people from feeling forced to make desperate choices just to provide a home for their children. 

Leslie Credle became a vital advocate for Alba. “Leslie didn’t have to help me, but she did,” Diaz said. With Leslie’s advocacy and J4H’s support, Alba secured a Section 8 voucher, finally giving her and her family a stable home.

Beyond housing, Alba has found direction in a new career path. She’s studying to become a community health worker, hoping to help others as Leslie did for her. “I want others to know there’s help out there. And I get to tell them about programs like J4H,” Diaz said. Now on a path to stability and hope, she advocates for expanding J4H to support more families. “People with subsidy housing vouchers, like me, need support so badly. We need more people to step up and help us,” said Diaz.   

Alba’s experience highlights the life-changing power of second chances, especially for those with criminal records. “It’s so hard to get a job when you get out,” Diaz said. “It took me almost a year to get hired, because no one trusts criminals. But how are we supposed to prove ourselves if we’re never given a chance? What if it was your brother, sister, or mother? Would you turn your back on them just because they made a wrong decision?”. For Alba, J4H was that second chance. "Two years ago, I didn’t know what I was going to do. I just needed someone to believe in me, and that’s what I got. J4H was my lifeline when I had nothing, and I’ll always be grateful for that,” said Diaz.  

Jose Lorenzo, raised in Boston, faced early challenges, including a nine-year prison sentence. Upon his release in 2019, his priorities were clear: secure stable housing and reuniting with his young son, who had been placed in foster care during his incarceration. However, he struggled to find affordable housing and was repeatedly rejected by housing authorities. 

Despite encountering numerous programs that promised help but provided little real support, Jose remembers a time when he slept in his truck, struggling to find a place to stay while his son remained in foster care. However, through community platforms, he connected with Justice for Housing, a program that would become his turning point. J4H not only helped him secure housing but also empowered him to share his story and advocate for others in similar situations. 

Jose began volunteering his time, sharing his personal journey at the State House and with community groups to raise awareness about the challenges faced by formerly incarcerated individuals seeking housing. His voice, his story, and his commitment to justice were instrumental in the development of J4H. Over the years, Jose's role within Justice for Housing evolved, from volunteer to case manager for the SHARP program, where he truly found his calling. In this role, he helps clients navigate the complex application process, offering guidance, support, and a personal testimony of what it means to rebuild a life after incarceration. “SHARP isn’t just about finding housing,” Lorenzo explained. “It’s about giving people a chance—helping them find stability and, ultimately, giving them the opportunity to thrive.”  

Jose Lorenzo, a Boston native, is a former Justice For Housing participant and now a SHARP case manager.

In addition to his work with SHARP, Jose plays multiple roles at Justice for Housing, including outreach coordinator and assisting with housing disputes. His passion for family reunification drives him to support parents who, like him, are striving to reconnect with their children. "Being a father is what drives me. I know what it feels like to be separated from your child, and I want to make sure others have the chance to bring their families back together," said Lorenzo.  

With the help of J4H, Jose now has a stable home and is working toward homeownership. "It's more than just housing; it's about building a foundation for the future," Lorenzo said, reflecting on his goal of owning a multifamily property to provide a stable future for his three sons. But Jose’s ambition doesn’t stop there. He’s working toward a future as a civic leader, with aspirations to run for City Council. His experiences—both the hardships and triumphs—have shaped his desire to advocate for policies that support formerly incarcerated individuals and break down the barriers that persist long after they've paid their debt to society.  

Jose is passionate about changing the narrative around those who have been incarcerated, especially challenging the term "returning citizens." “You're not a citizen when you return,” Lorenzo explained. “The system doesn’t forgive. There’s still discrimination, still barriers that people don’t realize.” Jose’s journey, from a man with nothing but a dream of being reunited with his son to a powerful advocate for housing justice, is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we invest in people and give them the support they need to succeed. 

Jose’s advocacy challenges the societal labels placed on justice-impacted individuals, pushing for a new understanding and a path toward true reintegration.  

As Jose works to shift the narrative, organizations like J4H are laying the groundwork for generational wealth and equity by equipping justice-impacted individuals with the tools to succeed. Their innovative programs not only change their lives but also set a new standard for others to follow. "Looking ahead, our focus is on changing laws and policies over the next few years, with the goal of expanding our program to other states—and potentially even nationally. Education is also a key component of our work. We’re beginning to teach others how to successfully house formerly incarcerated individuals because we’ve mastered it. We are experts, and now it’s time to share our knowledge with other organizations. By doing so, we can expand our reach and make a greater impact across the state," said Credle.