My husband is currently in prison and he asked me to see if I could find some information about grants or anything that he would be able to get to help us either now or when he get outs. He wants to start a business maybe but we'd need some kind of help. More specifically he is interested in possible grants to go back to school to learn more about what he's interested in and get licenced before we'd open the business. Does anyone know of anywhere that could help us with something like that considering he's a convicted felon that still owes on his fines. please help me. I've been looking but have had no luck. I'd think there would have to be something out there to help people like this so they can do something productive with their lives and not end up locked up again. He got his GED a few years ago and really wants to go to a trade school to learn what he needs as soon as he gets released but we cannot afford it without some kind of help.
2006-10-20 19:28:07 · 8 answers · asked by Kerri 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
No, there are no federal grants for convicted felons.
You can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov - these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support a for-profit venture.
Even if you buy books on "how to get grants" or list that supposedly has information on grants -- all of them are mere rehash of what CFDA has, albeit packaged differently.
Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT - Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program
Grants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women's Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women's business center that will train women entrepreneurs
There is a non-profit organization called Prison Entrepreneurship Program which is described as "a Houston-based nonprofit organization that leverages the skills of senior business executives to constructively redirect these talents and equip inmates and former inmates with entrepreneurial training—enabling them to productively re-enter society."
http://prisonentrepreneurship.org/
As for small business loans, felons typically find it hard to get one, even SBA. SBA adopts a "cautious" approach to lending to felons and oftentimes bases its decision on how serious the crime committed was and whether there is strong likelihood that the offense will be repeated again.
2006-10-21 01:08:09 · answer #1 · answered by imisidro 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are grants and loans for him to go back to school. The best way to find out about these are to go to the nearest vocational school or the one he wants to go to and ask the financial advisors there. The other thing he is going to have to realize is that it is going to be extremely hard for him to go to school and sustain a family. For high school non-convicted felons it is difficult, but for him being that he is a convicted felon, high school drop out, and I would assume that he is probably older than the usual college student, it is going to be excruciating. I would suggest that he first get a job to keep himself out of jail and supply an income. Then he could try to find a job in the field he wants to learn. If he starts work in that field and he still likes it, then go to school. Also, starting a business is not easy. It is going to take him a lot of work and frustration. Given what you have said about him, he needs to make sure that he is ready and EXTREMELY determined to make it work. It won't happen overnight.
2006-10-20 20:03:46 · answer #2 · answered by DLUVDAIMPERIAL 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My first question is why are you still married to a felon? If you decided to hang around when he's locked up, you may as well decide to get another job or two so you can support him. Starting a business...forget it. Can't be a felon and get a business license. You are in for one long, hard road if you stick around. Give it some thought.
2006-10-21 01:02:00 · answer #3 · answered by spag 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Iam a convicted felon, I obtained my G.E.D. while incarcerated , after my release I Received an associates degree in business. Unless his conviction is for a drug charge he is entitled to all grants and loans.Its a little harder to to secure a federal grant but don't give up it can be done! (I owne a R. V. repair business.)
2006-10-21 02:36:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Like the rest of us, he can certainly take out some student loans that have to be repaid. Because of his income level (zero), he will also be eligible for some financial aid for school. Start making inquiries at the type of trade school he wants to go to.
Best of luck to you both.
2006-10-21 01:30:47 · answer #5 · answered by BoomChikkaBoom 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Felons cant even vote...so why would they have grants for him? He did something bad enough to go to prison, so why would we give him free money now???
2006-10-20 20:03:09 · answer #6 · answered by Duhh 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
mony to help me get on my feet.
2014-10-17 07:04:38 · answer #7 · answered by brenda 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
IF HE IS GUILTY .
HE MUST SERVE HIS TIME
2006-10-21 08:03:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋