>>> RELEASE FROM PRISON BRINGS A NEW SET OF CHALLENGES.

MANY FIND THEMSELVES IN HOUSING INSECURITY.

DIFFICULTY FINDING A JOB AND STRUGGLING TO INTEGRATE.

SAINT LEONARD'S WAS A HALFWAY HOUSE.

THEIR MISSION HAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE JOB TRAINING, HEALTH CARE, AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT FOR REENTERING MEN AND WOMEN.

BUT THEY SAY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THEY OFFER THE RESIDENTS IS TIME TO HEAL.

AS PART OF WTTW'S ONGOING INITIATIVE, FIRSTHAND LIFE AFTER PRISON, PRODUCER ERICA GUNDERSON HAS THE STORY.

>> I WEAR MANY HATS HERE.

SOMETIMES I'M A COUNSELOR.

SOMETIMES I'M JUST AN EAR.

FOR SOMEONE TO LISTEN TO.

>> Reporter: AS INTAKE AND HOUSING MANAGER, DAVID HARRIS HELPS PEOPLE RETURNING FROM INCARCERATION SUCCESSFULLY REENTER THEIR COMMUNITIES.

AND HE SAYS HE KNOWS THEY CAN DO IT.

>> I CAN'T DO THE PROGRAM.

BACK IN 1996 MYSELF.

I HAVE BEEN THROUGH SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

I HAVE BEEN HOMELESS.

AND I HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE SYSTEM.

BUT WHAT I DID IS I CHOSE TO CHANGE MY LIFE THROUGH EDUCATING MYSELF.

AND THEN, GIVING IT BACK NOW, IT IS LIKE LOOKING IN THE MIRROR.

>> IN THE MERELY 70 YEARS SAINT LEONARD'S HAS MAINTAINED ITS QUIET PRESENCE ON THE WEST SIDE, THE NON-PROFIT HAS GROWN FAR BEYOND ITS INITIAL MISSION OF GETTING MEN OUT OF INCARCERATION.

>> WE ARE NOT JUST A HOUSING PROVIDER OR A WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT PROVIDER.

NOT JUST A MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER.

AND WE ARE NOT JUST SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND RECOVERY.

WE ARE ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

THERE ARE SO MANY OBSTACLES THAT GET PUT IN THE WAY.

WE PROVIDE ALL OF OUR SERVICES, AND ALL OF OUR WORK FORCE PROGRAMS.

FREE OF CHARGE.

>> Reporter: IT BEGINS WITH HOUSING.

BOTH TRANSITIONAL.

THE 42 FURNISHED UNITS AT SAINT ANDREW'S COURT ALLOW RESIDENTS TO EASE INTO INDEPENDENCE AT THEIR OWN PACE.

>> IT ALSO STEMS THE FACT IF THEY HAVE BEEN HERE OVER A YEAR WITH US AND THEY HAVE BEEN PAYING RENT AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, IT HELPS IN REGARDS TO WHEN THEY GO OUT THERE AND APPLY FOR AN APARTMENT.

THEY CAN USE US AS A REFERENCE AND A LOT OF GUYS GET HERE HAVE NEVER BEEN ON THE LEASE BEFORE.

NEVER HAD AN APARTMENT.

THEY CAN COME IN AND THEY CAN FEEL THAT THEY ARE HOME.

THAT'S WHAT THE WHOLE THING IS ABOUT.

>> Reporter: AND JOB TRAINING IS JUST STEPS AWAY AT THE BARLOW CENTER.

>> IN ADDITION TO I WAS LEARNING ABOUT FOOD.

WE ALSO LEARN HOW TO BE PROFESSIONAL.

HOW TO RESPECT EACH OTHER.

AND HOW TO ENCOURAGE AND ROOT FOR EACH OTHER.

BECAUSE SOMETIMES, YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT A PERSON IS DEALING WITH.

OR WHATEVER THEIR BACKGROUND IS.

WE ARE MORE LIKE A FAMILY HERE.

>> Reporter: THE 14-WEEK CONSTRUCTION SKILLS COURSE TAUGHT BY JONATHAN WILSON PREPARES PARTICIPANTS FOR TRADE APPRENTICESHIPS AND INDUSTRY JOBS.

>> WE ARE LEARNING TO BUILD A HOUSE ON THE GROUND UP.

FRAMING.

PLUMBING.

ROOF ING.

HOUSING MANAGEMENT COMPANIES.

A WIDE WAY THEY CAN GO.

>> Reporter: THE PROOF THEIR HOLISTIC APPROACH WORKS IS RECIDIVISM RATE.

>> THERE IS GROWING RECOGNITION THAT SOCIETY IS BETTER IF WE FIGURE OUT BETTER WAYS TO WELCOME AND INCORPORATE RETURNING RESIDENTS.

>> WE ARE HERE TO HELP EACH OTHER BE SUCCESSFUL IN OUR JOURNEY.

>> SOMEONE SAID AT THE LAST GRADUATION, HE WAS BROKEN WHEN HE CAME HERE AND I KNOW WHAT HE MEANS BY THAT.

AND YOU CAN BE BROKEN BUT THEN YOU HAVE A PLACE TO HEAL.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES, THIS IS ERICA GUNDERSON.

>>> AND YOU CAN FIND ALL ON MORE SAINT LEONARD'S HAS TO