Leading Into New Communities, Inc. (LINC, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides transitional living and case management services to meet the immediate needs of men and women returning from prison. LINC, Inc., also runs L.I.T.E. Manhood, culturally specific youth development services for African American young men ages 16-24. LINC, Inc.: • Has served approximately 2300 adults and 490 youth since it started providing services in 2000 • Has a 92% success rate compared to North Carolina's state rate of 59%. Forty-one percent of state released individuals that do not participate in LINC, Inc.’s re-entry programs return to prison (2011). Reference: Pew State of Recidivism. • Empowers people returning from prison to become employed, tax paying citizens, contributing to and strengthening the local economy. • Increases the likelihood of a person becoming more employable with our emphasis on GED attainment, post-secondary education, vocational training and work experience. LINC, Inc. provides: • Transitional living coupled with a stable, sustaining employment program, two components which reduce recidivism by 50%. • Counseling, work experience and training, and case management support services which enhance the level of individual success. • Close screening of participants before admission to the program to enhance the safety of the community as well as other residents. • 24-hour supervised and structured living environment. • “Functional mending” which allows individuals opportunities to undo negative behaviors and experience and learn positive ones. • Opportunities for at risk youth to learn positive behaviors with the philosophy of the LITE program that it is better to "build a boy than mend a man." • Reduces the housing cost to the state: cost to house an individual in LINC Inc.’s facility is $5,000 annually compared to $27,572 annually to house an inmate in prison (2012). • Competent, knowledgeable, compassionate staff