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Introducing the Future Standard of Payments! 

 

At HomeWAV, we’re setting a new standard for payment accessibility. Say goodbye to limitations and hello to a world of convenience, as we empower you with an array of trusted payment methods to choose from – including credit, debit, prepaid cards, cash, Amazon Pay, Cash App, Link,  Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

 

We believe in constantly evolving and innovating to make our app even more user-friendly and efficient to help connect communities. This update allows us to implement new features and technology that will elevate your experience, ensuring a faster and more secure payment process.

 

What can you expect from our flexible and secure payment options?

 

Additional Payment Methods: Experience the ease and flexibility of choosing from a wide selection of payment options. With Apple Pay, Google Pay, Amazon Pay, Cash App, and Link as your default choices, you can pay your way, your style. This integration also still supports credit and debit card payments.

 

Automated Refunds: We’ve streamlined the refund process. Experience hassle-free automated refunds, putting you in control of your finances and ensuring a smooth refund experience. 

 

Update Saved Payment Methods: While your previous payment types won’t automatically transfer with this change, we see this as an opportunity to provide you with a clean slate, giving you the chance to review and update your payment information with ease. As part of this secure upgrade, we invite you to reload your payment information into the app to continue using autopay. We understand updating this can be a bit of a hassle, but we assure you that this will lead to a smoother and more seamless experience each time you want to communicate with your loved one.

 

We’re committed to improving our technology to foster quality connections with your loved ones, and our new flexible payment options are now a part of your everyday experience to communicate.

 

For more information, contact our Customer Support Team here and they will be happy to assist you with any questions.

For previously incarcerated individuals, being released from jail is the start of a new chapter of difficulties when they are unable to access the right resources to reenter society. Due to minimal preparation and inadequate community reentry programs for those previously incarcerated — as well as prejudices from society towards the incarcerated and their families — many find their options limited. 

The U.S. Department of Justice reports that over 67% of state and federal prisoners are likely to be rearrested within three years of their release, stating, “with no job, no money, and no place to live, returnees often find themselves facing the same pressures and temptations that landed them in prison in the first place.”

However, there is a growing understanding that resources and programs are needed to help those previously incarcerated reenter society successfully and lower the rates of recidivism. These resources are meant to help the formerly incarcerated and their families break through barriers to reenter society and live happy, productive lives.

Reentry Programs and Resources for Those Previously Incarcerated

Housing Services

One of the most immediate needs when being released from jail is the need for housing if none is available. Depending on the situation, it can be difficult for an individual to find housing. If there are strained familial relationships or current addiction issues, living with family members may not be an option. However, an individual’s record and raising rental prices across the country can keep those previously incarcerated from finding a home. Additionally, myths prevail that those who have been convicted of a crime are “banned” from public housing.

If an individual is not able to live with family in a secure environment, it is important to connect with reentry programs as soon as possible to find available housing.

• The first resource is to connect with their parole officer. Parole officers will be the most in-touch with local resources for those previously incarcerated.

• Catholic Charities USA provides resources for families and individuals who are homeless or in danger of becoming destitute. You do not need to be Catholic to receive assistance.

• Reentry and Housing Coalition provides resources in finding housing — public, private, and transitional — to the formerly incarcerated.

• Volunteers of America also provides housing and additional reentry programs and resources for those formerly incarcerated. With local offices across the country, they have access to more immediately available housing.

• Every state has a Public Housing Authority government office that is responsible for providing housing resources to the local community. These include local Section 8 aid through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

• In some cities, small houses are available to those who are in danger of becoming homeless, including pilot programs in Pinellas, Fl. Google whether there are tiny homes available in your city to see if there are local resources available. 

Employment Services

Finding employment when you have been arrested — much less convicted of a crime — can be difficult. While there is a push to remove the disclosure of criminal records from job applications entirely and move background checks further in the employment process to allow those who were previously incarcerated to be considered for their qualifications, many states still allow employers to request your detainment history. 

That being said, there are a number of employment resources for those who were previously incarcerated.

• CareerOneStop is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, providing employment resources, including for those previously incarcerated.

• The Fair Shake Reentry Resource Center is a 501(c)(3) charity that helps previously incarcerated individuals find a variety of services, including employment listings specifically for those with a criminal record and resources for those looking to start a business.

• Your local municipality should have resources through the Department of Labor to help those previously incarcerated find employment. Googling your city’s Department of Labor will help you find the correct location. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Labor provides employment resources.

• For those looking to start their own business or gain additional training for employment, there are available grants that make finding funding and resources easier to expand your skills or get your business idea off the ground.

Education

Gaining an education can help open opportunities for stable employment. While many jails and prisons provide education programs as part of their previous reentry services, there are opportunities for those released to continue their education.

• The Thurman Perry Foundation provides previously incarcerated females with scholarships to help them pursue educational opportunities.

• The Last Prisoner Project provides resources for those who were incarcerated due to the sale or use of cannabis. These resources include educational and professional development support.

Mental Health

Studies have found that approximately 20 percent of those in jail and 15 percent of those in state prisons have serious mental health issues, however, that number does not include those who have a mental illness that is not considered “serious.” Serious mental illness is defined as “a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder resulting in serious functional impairment, which substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities.” 

Even if someone entered jail without substantial mental illness, they may have developed worsening symptoms or new illnesses since becoming incarcerated.

Working with mental health resource services can reduce the possibility of reoffense and help those previously incarcerated lead healthier, happier lives.

• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration — which falls under the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services — provides mental health resources, including for those previously incarcerated and their families.

• Volunteers of America provides both mental health and substance abuse services that are also available to those previously incarcerated.

• Mental health services are provided via your state’s Medicaid/Medicare resources. You can call your local office to get connected with in-service mental health providers.

Drug and Alcohol Addiction

A three-year study by Columbia University found that up to 80 percent of those incarcerated — around 1.4 million people — were seriously involved with drugs and alcohol. Unfortunately, overcoming addiction is more than just willpower or telling yourself that you can avoid temptation. 

There are many resources available to help combat drug and alcohol addiction through the mental health services mentioned above, as well as a few additional key resources.

• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has a confidential, free phone service to help people find substance abuse treatment. Call 1-800-662-4357 to get in touch with a representative.

• Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous provide free meetings and other resources to those dealing with addiction.

How HomeWAV Can Help

One of the greatest resources for those previously incarcerated is to stay connected to their friends and family while serving their prison sentence. HomeWAV provides voice calling, video visitation, and eMessaging to help maintain connection between those incarcerated and their loved ones. Discussing a plan of release early will help ensure a plan of action when your loved one is released. See how easy it is to use our services and reach out to us to get started.

Visiting a loved one who is incarcerated often comes with challenges, and the experience produces strong emotions that run the gamut from sadness to elation. Seeing the facility might feel foreign and seem scary, especially to kids. And saying goodbye to your friend or family member? That’s never easy. But supporting an incarcerated loved one makes sense for a variety of reasons — and with help from platforms allowing video visitation in prisons, it’s simpler than ever.

What are the benefits of routine video calls during incarceration? First, they strengthen the bonds between incarcerated parents and their children. In fact, research shows that the rate of recidivism goes down for prisoners whose friends and family stay in touch, meaning less likelihood of repeating the experience later. They also give incarcerated men and women the hope they need — and hope, of course, is key to their well-being.

Despite these advantages, some people find planning in-person visits nearly impossible due to travel constraints, financial worries, or over the past year, concerns about COVID-19. For that reason, visiting someone in jail over a video call has taken off as a viable and safe alternative.

So if you’re looking to have a remote video call with an incarcerated loved one, how can you get started?

Planning for Successful Video Calls With Incarcerated Friends and Family

If someone you care about is serving time right now (and going on-site is not an option), you might want to try remote video visitation for its convenience and continued connection. Before your first call, keep these strategies in mind for a more seamless experience:

1. Use trustworthy equipment. Nothing’s more frustrating than not having the right device for a video call. Test your laptop, tablet, or smartphone in advance to ensure the technology can weather a remote call. Likewise, don’t be afraid to ask someone for help if you’re not confident using the equipment or need a quick walkthrough of the video platform. Also, remember that phones without cameras (say, flip phones) won’t have the specs you need to make your call.

If you don’t have the technology at home to make these calls, consider visiting a friend’s house who does or an organization that loans out the right equipment (like a library). Please note that if you’re using HomeWAV and also borrowing equipment, you’ll need to be able to download the app and log into your personal account.

2. Choose your surroundings thoughtfully. Want a better give-and-take during the call? Set up your remote calls in a well-lit (not backlit) space. This makes it easier for your friend or loved one to see you. Also, be aware that sound can travel, and opt for headphones or earbuds if you think your background could get noisy. Above all else, avoid making calls from a car or bustling commercial location.

3. Pay attention to network connectivity. Bad connections happen — and that’s particularly true if you use public Wi-Fi, which tends to be of poorer quality than connections provided by most folks’ personal cellular plans. In the event of an unacceptable connection, make sure both parties wait a minute before calling back. This allows time for the system to refresh. If you’re having recurring issues with your home’s Wi-Fi, try calling when you’re the only household member relying on your internet signal (this also includes smartphones connected to the internet).

4. Make sure the HomeWAV account holder will be present on the call. Some facilities that monitor live calls will disconnect remote video visitation in prisons and suspend accounts if the account holder isn’t present in the frame (for example, a parent who’s an account holder leaving just their children in the video frame to chat). Likewise, they might discontinue a call if anyone besides the approved visitor appears on camera. Always review facility rules to avoid problems caused by unintended policy violations.

5. Dress for the visit per facility guidelines. The dress codes and activity expectations that hold up for in-person visits usually roll over into remote ones. With that in mind, remember that nudity, drug use, and even adult language are not allowed on a video visitation. Rather than risk losing the ability to chat with your loved one, follow these rules to the best of your ability. If you have questions about what’s acceptable, clarify before your call so you don’t make any mistakes that could sour your experience. When you’re ready to sign up for a HomeWAV account, be sure to carefully review the facility’s guidelines before completing that process. If you already have an account and need a refresher, check the facility’s website for policy guidelines. Generally, each facility will list basic information on HomeWAV, where to go to create an account, and a set of their own rules.

6. Expect and accept intense feelings. Visiting someone in jail is bittersweet for everyone, and you don’t know exactly how you’ll react. Nevertheless, you can be sure that strong emotions could pop up at any time. It’s healthy to express your feelings rather than hide them, but try to remain as positive as you can. End on an upbeat note, like promising to see each other remotely soon. Your optimism will help buoy the spirits of your family member or friend who can’t come home.

7. Keep children connected from home. Millions of children have an incarcerated parent, and asking a child to participate in a video call with them helps them to not only share in the visitation but also experience a precious moment of connection. To be sure, kids won’t always want to stick around for an entire call depending upon their age and ability to focus. Still, they can say hello and chat for a while — and that’s a blessing for everyone.

If you’d like to include kids, just be sure to get approval from the facility you’re calling before launching the remote call (some facilities require children to be registered for video visits). At the same time, ensure the account holder is on screen and navigating for the entire call.

The digital age continues to remove communication barriers in a variety of ways, including ones between those serving time and their loved ones. If you long to stay in touch with an incarcerated loved one who’s miles (or even states) away, why not try a video visit? If you’re looking to set up an account for inmate calls, create a HomeWAV account and add funds. The HomeWAV kiosk at the detention facility will let your loved one know when you or other visitors are available, and they can then initiate a call.

Interested in learning more about how HomeWAV can help you? Reach out to us today by clicking here!