SSC

Second Chance Center, Inc. (SCC) is a Colorado-based non-profit organization that provides comprehensive, holistic services to individuals transitioning out of incarceration. Founded in 2012 by Hassan A. Latif, who was formerly incarcerated for 18 years, the organization began as a mobile outreach program operating from his car. Latif's personal experience with the justice system and the gaps he identified in re-entry support motivated him to establish an organization focused on reducing recidivism. In 2021, Latif transitioned leadership to his mentor, Khalil Halim, and retired in 2024.

SCC's business model is that of a non-profit organization, relying significantly on grants and donations to provide free services to its clients. The organization offers a wide array of wraparound services tailored to meet individuals where they are, without a rigid program structure. Core services include transitional and permanent supportive housing, intensive case management, peer mentoring, behavioral health and substance misuse treatment, and career pathway programs. Clients served are formerly incarcerated individuals, many of whom face complex challenges like mental illness, addiction, and trauma. SCC's approach is client-centered and trauma-informed, aiming to restore dignity and foster successful reintegration.

The organization provides tangible resources such as food and clothing, alongside career services that include job readiness training, pre-apprenticeship programs in skilled trades, and connections with fair-chance employers. A key component of their model is housing development, such as the Residences on Acoma, which offers income-restricted and supportive housing units. By addressing foundational needs like housing, healthcare, and employment, SCC aims to create stability and opportunity for its clients, reporting a recidivism rate significantly lower than national averages.

Keywords: reentry services, formerly incarcerated, recidivism reduction, supportive housing, prisoner rehabilitation, community reentry, transitional housing, behavioral health services, career pathways, non-profit, criminal justice reform, peer mentoring, Colorado, justice-involved individuals, case management, substance misuse treatment, trauma-informed care, employment support, wraparound services, social enterprise