The 4-49 Project

The 49-9 Project Prison Ministry Program was first introduced in 2012 with the goal of providing recently released inmates a directory to help guide them to available resources. The program quickly grew to also providing classes to inmates, case management, financial assistance, mentoring and resume and job search assistance. By 2017, the cases served and individuals attending classes grew rapidly. Today, the Christian based program equips individuals to find housing, employment, and independence when they are released back into the communities, with the ultimate goal of reduced recidivism and stabilizing the lives of ex-offenders. 

The Salvation Army’s 49-9 Project, seeks to reach out to persons currently incarcerated and recently released from correctional and treatment facilities in the Northeast Ohio. We assist and address needs with a spirit of compassion and nurturing as put forth in Isaiah 49:9 and The Salvation Army Mission Statement to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

Hearing a heavy door close behind you is often described as the ultimate moment of fear and loneliness for someone entering the prison system, but facing the world from the outside of that door after release can be every bit as daunting. Strained relationships, homelessness, unemployment, relapse and recidivism are but a few of the problems that are lurking on the other side of that door.

According to the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, over 20,000 individuals are released from Ohio state prisons every year. Studies show that approximately 1/3 will likely be rearrested within 3 years of their release. For ex-offenders and their families, their release back to the community poses numerous challenges. When they are released with no job, no money, and no place to live, the likelihood of a successful reentry and integration is a large and seemingly impossible hurdle to overcome.