Under the contract {boosted from $2M to $5M}, Project Kinship employs peer navigators – many of whom were formerly incarcerated themselves – to connect with people as they leave jail and offer them a phone charge, clean clothes, transportation, temporary shelter and program assessments.

From there, the program offers support for mental health and drug treatment services, housing, job skills training and peer support groups.

A study commissioned by the county found Project Kinship significantly reduced the likelihood that people would later become incarcerated again, known as recidivism.

Sarmiento also said the county should look at changing its practice of releasing people from jail around midnight or later – a time when public transportation isn’t running and nearly everything is closed.