What We Do
Programs That See the Whole Woman
Five integrated pillars, each woven into the daily rhythm of W.R.I.S.E. Homes. No pillar is optional. No pillar stands alone. Together, they are the difference between transitional housing and transformational home.
The Hamer HouseSt. Louis, Missouri
W.R.I.S.E. Homes
Pillar 1 · The Foundation
83%
Recidivism reduction with stable housing support (Holtfreder et al., 2004, via NIJ)
A Real Home.
Not Just a Roof.
Safe, stable, dignified housing is the foundation of everything W.R.I.S.E. does. Without it, no other healing is possible.
The Hamer House is the first W.R.I.S.E. Home, opening in St. Louis as a member of the SAFE Housing Network. Our model is built on the proven approach of A New Way of Life Reentry Project, adapted for Missouri. Research shows that providing stable housing reduces the odds of recidivism by 83% for women in poverty. The Hamer House is part of the missing infrastructure Missouri has failed to build.
Named for Fannie Lou Hamer, who did not survive her incarceration to be quiet, this home is a declaration that justice-impacted women in Missouri deserve more than survival. They deserve a foundation.
- ✓Safe, furnished transitional housing during early reentry
- ✓Trauma-informed house policies, community agreements, and safety protocols
- ✓Wraparound support woven in from day one: wellness, employment, family
- ✓Peer-led model honoring the lineage of Ms. Susan Burton and A New Way of Life
- ✓Clear pathways to permanent housing upon exit, with doors that remain open
W.R.I.S.E. Health
Pillar 2 · Whole-Woman Wellness
75%
Of formerly incarcerated women have experienced homelessness (Prison Policy Initiative, 2019)
Healing Has to
Come First.
Justice-impacted women carry trauma that the system inflicts and rarely treats. W.R.I.S.E. Health centers healing as a non-negotiable.
Led by Co-Founder and CPO Dazie McCall, whose 15+ years in healthcare and behavioral health grounds W.R.I.S.E.'s clinical approach, our Health pillar connects residents to the care they need without barriers, without judgment, and without shame.
- ✓Mental health assessment and referral within the first 30 days, with trauma-informed providers who accept Medicaid
- ✓Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) coordination: Suboxone, methadone, and naltrexone support
- ✓Healthcare navigation: MO HealthNet enrollment, primary care, dental, vision, and reproductive health
- ✓Harm reduction: Narcan stocked in the home, fentanyl test strips, and safer use information
- ✓Trauma-specific referrals: rape crisis, domestic violence, and complex PTSD services
W.R.I.S.E. Pathways
Pillar 3 · Life Skills and Employment
79%
Of women name employment and life skills as their greatest need upon release (NIJ, 2012)
Building Toward
Independence.
Economic stability is freedom. Poverty is the single strongest predictor of recidivism among women. W.R.I.S.E. Pathways equips women with every tool they need to break that cycle.
W.R.I.S.E. Pathways meets women at their current skill level and walks alongside them toward lasting economic self-sufficiency. Not just a job, but the foundation to build from.
- ✓Financial literacy, budgeting, and financial independence programming
- ✓Employment readiness: resume building, interview prep, and job placement support
- ✓Goal-setting, communication skills, and self-advocacy training
- ✓Community reintegration and transition planning
- ✓Workforce development partnerships across Missouri
W.R.I.S.E. Mothers
Pillar 4 · Family Reunification
80%
Of incarcerated women are mothers (National Institute of Justice, 2024)
Family is at
the Center.
80% of incarcerated women are mothers. Nearly 200,000 American children lose their primary caregiver to incarceration every year. W.R.I.S.E. Mothers makes reunification real.
Women who maintain connection with their children are less likely to experience depression and more likely to achieve reunification upon release. W.R.I.S.E. Mothers provides coordinated support for women rebuilding the relationships that matter most.
- ✓Family reunification support through coordinated services and goal planning
- ✓Parenting education, resources, and practical skill building
- ✓Relationship rebuilding with children and extended family
- ✓Community partnership referrals for child welfare and family services
- ✓Support grounded in the belief that children and mothers belong together
W.R.I.S.E. Voices
Pillar 5 · Civic Leadership
2027
Launching — training formerly incarcerated women to lead civic change across Missouri
Lived Experience
IS Leadership.
The women who have navigated the criminal legal system understand it better than anyone. W.R.I.S.E. Voices trains them to lead the movement to change it.
Launching in 2027, W.R.I.S.E. Voices is our peer-led civic engagement program, training formerly incarcerated women as voter educators, census advocates, and policy changemakers across Missouri. Civic power belongs to every woman, including and especially those the system tried to silence.
- ✓Peer-to-peer voter education, rights restoration, and registration outreach
- ✓Community civic workshops on voting rights and local governance
- ✓Education campaigns in preparation for the 2030 Census
- ✓Organizing, advocacy, and public speaking leadership training
- ✓A pathway from resident to leader within the W.R.I.S.E. community
Ready to Support Our Programs?
The research is clear, and programs like these save lives and save money. Whether you give, volunteer, or partner with us, you are investing in what works.