At Level, we celebrate leaders who are building innovative solutions that support successful reentry and reduce recidivism. Few stories embody this mission more than that of Harley Blakeman, a formerly incarcerated entrepreneur who has dedicated his life to breaking down barriers for justice-impacted people.
From struggle to systemic change
When Harley came home from prison in 2012, he faced the same uphill battles that millions of returning citizens encounter every year. For more than two years, he lived without health insurance while also struggling to find steady employment. Countless job applications were rejected because of his criminal record, leaving him uninsured and unemployed during a critical time in his life.
These challenges could have defined his future. Instead, Harley turned them into motivation to create change. In 2018, he launched Honest Jobs, which has since grown into the nation’s largest fair-chance employment platform. Honest Jobs has now connected more than 200,000 justice-impacted people with fair-chance employers, proving that second chances in the workplace change lives.
The birth of Reentry Care
Employment is only part of the reentry journey. Having lived without both insurance and reliable work, Harley knew how important healthcare is for stability. This led him to launch a new organization: Reentry Care.
While Honest Jobs focuses on employment, Reentry Care helps justice-impacted people access government-subsidized health insurance by providing free eligibility screening and enrollment assistance. Most returning citizens qualify for plans with monthly premiums as low as $0 per month. By providing enrollment support, Reentry Care makes it easier for people to secure healthcare quickly and avoid being left unprotected during the critical months after release.
Why timing matters: the special enrollment period
People who return home from jail or prison qualify for a special enrollment period under the Affordable Care Act. This means they do not have to wait until the next open enrollment window to apply for coverage. They are eligible immediately, and taking advantage of this opportunity can make the difference between stability and setback.
Securing health insurance quickly matters because:
- Many people leave incarceration with untreated medical or mental health needs.
- Coverage provides access to behavioral health and substance use treatment, which are key supports for preventing relapse.
- Insurance protects against medical debt that can destabilize reentry.
- Preventive care helps people stay healthy and avoid avoidable crises.
By helping people enroll right away, Reentry Care ensures they do not miss their window and risk going uninsured for months or years.
The impact
The results are already clear. Reentry Care has received several five-star Google reviews, including this one:
“They really went out of their way to help me and my son figure out insurance. I didn’t think I would qualify for half of what they did for me, I couldn’t be more happy with the results. 10/10.”
These stories highlight the crucial role healthcare plays in stabilizing families, preventing recidivism, and strengthening communities.
Simple enrollment assistance
Requesting help from Reentry Care is straightforward. Anyone can complete a short form to connect with an enrollment specialist who will walk them through their options step by step. If you or someone you know needs healthcare coverage, you can get started today: Request Healthcare Enrollment Assistance.
Where Reentry Care operates
Reentry Care is already serving people in:
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
A call to action
At LearnLevel, we believe in amplifying the voices and work of leaders like Harley Blakeman who are reshaping the reentry landscape. We encourage our readers to:
- Visit ReentryCare.org to learn more.
- Share this resource with justice-impacted individuals in your community.
- Start the process today by filling out the healthcare enrollment request form.
Reentry is not just about a second chance. It is about creating the conditions where people can truly thrive. Honest Jobs and Reentry Care are separate organizations, but together they represent a powerful step forward in building those conditions nationwide.