Four-county initiative faces state funding cuts, seeks local support to continue serving justice-involved residents
BY NICOLE BOWMAN-LAYTON
EDENTON — The Chowan County Board of Commissioners voted Monday evening (Sept. 16) to provide contingent funding for a four-county re-entry program that helps formerly incarcerated individuals transition back into their communities, but only if all four participating counties agree to share the costs.
More about the meeting will appear in future stories.
The Local Re-entry Council, which serves Chowan, Gates, Bertie, and Hertford counties, received notice on August 29 that its state funding would end August 30 – just one day before the contract expired. The program, administered by OIC of Rocky Mount, had been operating with a $225,000 grant from the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections.
Greg Singleton, Dean of Academic Programs for OIC, told commissioners that the funding shortfall isn’t unique to their region.
“This also happened to Halifax, Northampton, it happened to Lee and Chatham, and is going to happen to Washington, Beaufort, Tyrrell and a few others,” he said.
The re-entry council employs two case managers: John Outlaw covering Hertford and Bertie counties, and Emma Nixon serving Chowan and Gates counties. Between them, they currently serve about 16 active clients, with nine coming from Chowan County – the highest number from any single county in the program.
Nixon, who relocated to take the position, emphasized the personal connection to the work.
“John and I both relocated to come home, to come help the people that we care about in our own communities,” she told commissioners. “We’re not asking you to help people that aren’t at your own back doors.”
The program focuses on removing barriers to employment, including assistance with housing, transportation, childcare, and connecting clients with educational opportunities at local community colleges. Several clients have secured employment with Fortune 500 companies and other local businesses.
Commissioner discussions revealed concerns about the financial commitment and long-term sustainability. The immediate request is for $6,920.99 from each county to fund Outlaw and Nixon’s salaries through December 31, 2025. However, commissioners expressed wariness about making an open-ended commitment without guarantees of future state funding.
“I just don’t want to get into a thing where we’re chasing a budget chasing the state,” said Board Chair Bob Kirby, noting the county’s responsibility to its 14,000 residents.
Singleton acknowledged the uncertainty, saying he couldn’t guarantee what would happen after Dec. 31. He noted that while the original grant was funded through executive order reallocating unused state positions, the program would need to be written into the state budget for permanent funding.
The motion passed with the condition that all four counties must unanimously agree to participate. County Manager Kevin Howard indicated that Gates County was particularly interested, and Bertie County Manager Juan Vaughan was also supportive.
Studies cited by program officials show North Carolina’s prison recidivism rate at 48% within two years of release, but communities with active re-entry programs see that rate drop to less than 20%, Singleton said. The annual cost of incarceration ranges from $30,000-$34,000 per person, while re-entry programs cost only $500-$1,500 annually per participant.
The program has established partnerships with College of the Albemarle, Martin Community College, and Roanoke-Chowan Community College, with the latter’s president serving on the executive committee. The committee also includes all four county managers and various community leaders.
Commissioners will await confirmation from the other three counties before releasing the funds from their contingency budget. If approved, the funding would bridge operations through the end of 2025 while organizers seek alternative funding sources, including potential support from private foundations and local industries.
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