WYFF : A man who cycled through prisons across the United States for most of his adult life will be the first graduate of a post-incarceration program to receive a home of his own.

Oscar Jimenez grew up in Los Angeles, California. He was the middle of three brothers, all raised by a single mother.

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Jimenez fell into a drug habit and was incarcerated at 18 years old. From there, he spent years in and out of incarceration.

"I try and search for a new beginning. And I kind of fell into the same behavior. It can just become a way of life, you know?" Jimenez remembers feeling scared, alone and uncertain he could find a path forward.

"I was really just trying to break the cycle," Jimenez said.

Soteria founder Jerry Blassingame said the resources are slim for returning citizens because of collateral consequences. These are penalties barring people who have criminal records from employment, voting and housing.

Black history is American history. The legacy of African Americans in the United States is one of remarkable resilience, innovation, and achievement. It is this legacy that has paved the way for organizations like Soteria Community Development Corporation to not only exist but to thrive in their missions.

Soteria CDC expands its influence to Liberia. Read this letter from the founder of Wings for Life in Monrovia.

Soteria at Work collaboration with artist Rey Alfonso was unveiled at GSP on May 12th. The piece was auctioned at Soteria’s annual fall fundraiser, won and donated to GSP by Kathleen Reynolds.

Since 2017, the Greenville Health Authority has awarded over $34 million through Healthy Greenville Grant Initiatives, funding programs that improve the health of Greenville County residents.

After the organization passed its 25th anniversary this year, Blassingame reflected on the early days of self-sufficiency, the successes and the setbacks, and where he sees Soteria heading.

by Spencer Donovan, Post and Courier

Jackson Lyda shares his experience working at Soteria as a Grant Writer.

Soteria is proud to partner with the Greenville Homeless Alliance (GHA) to provide the land for two tiny homes as a pilot project introducing an innovative, one-of-a-kind initiative to alleviate the affordable housing crisis in Greenville County.

In recognition of #SecondChanceMonth, #TheCultureConnect meets Pastor Jerry Blassingame of Greenville, South Carolina, founder and CEO of Soteria Community Development Corporation, a non-profit organization addressing the needs of formerly incarcerated people. The Soteria CDC re-entry program provides transitional housing, both men and women’s facilities, financial literacy, job training, multiple social enterprises, entrepreneurial opportunities, and discipleship.

Put your tools away. A life at Soteria after incarceration offers second chances through structure and responsibility.

The men who live at Soteria’s transitional house are often grappling with their identities once released from prison, and are determined to make more of their lives than the mistakes that landed them there.

After spending 5 months with Soteria, Investigative Reporter, Kathryn Casteel published an article following one of our program participants, Henry Thomas.

Kathryn Casteel from the Greenville News spent the last five months following a handful of men living at Soteria and wrote this article about reentry, the work of Soteria, and the lives we serve.

An Upstate organization that helps men and women coming out of prison is working to rebuild but is facing some roadblocks.

Soteria was featured in Upstate Vibe 365’s Ten at the Top!

We are thrilled to celebrate the opening of Soteria House for Women. Join us this Thursday on August 11th for our ribbon cutting.

We look forward to seeing you there!

An update from our founder, Jerry Blassingame, on the fire than burned our Soteria At Work wood shop.

A fire broke out at a Greenville nonprofit Wednesday evening, according to Deputy Chief Shane Walters, with Parker Fire Department.

According to Walters, no one was inside and there were no injuries.

Founder, Jerry Blassingame said he’s happy no one was hurt but is at a loss for words…

Soteria Community Development Corporation held a drop-in event Tuesday to educate the community on its re-entry program to help people transition back into society after incarceration where local and state state representatives declared April as 2nd Chance Month.

Upstate re-entry program to open new women's facility. Soteria plans to open a transitional house for women in April.

To serve women navigating the obstacles of reentry as they journey back into society, Soteria CDC will open a 16 bed transitional housing facility for women in the Spring.