"I think one of the misconceptions is that we're sitting there doing nothing," says Michael Allen.

For Allen, spending two years behind bars was a life changing experience. But it was frustrating too. His options for a job were limited. 

"Alot of the guys are beyond just doing physical labor. Alot of guys do come in with motivations to do other than just pick up trash."

"What prison teaches people how to do is be prisoners. And thats not a marketable skill once you get out here. So all of the time that you are in prison you are sort of doing the exact opposite of the many things you need to do to survive in the community," says Ann Graham of the Catholic Family Center.

"When I return to society, I still have that blockage because they ask me about experience," says Allen.

At the Catholic Family Center, they have a program for ex-cons.  That program will be expected to be extended to current inmates - thanks the approved statewide proposition.

"They handle our reception window for us. They may do photocopying for us or they help us with facility type issues," says Graham.

Allen says these new opportunities is about breaking the cycle that many convicted felons fall into. Returning back to jail.

"The opportunities to come into a nonprofit organization would expand those possibilities," says Allen.

And that he says will make our streets safer. The program could begin as early as January first.