Mother’s Day 365
Housing Relief Fund
Mother’s Day 365 Housing Relief Fund
Mission: Ensuring Secure Housing for Mother’s Impacted by Incarceration
Women of Color Who Have Experienced Incarceration Face Extraordinary Circumstances to Successful Reentry.
Formerly incarcerated people are nearly 10 times more likely to be homeless than those who have not experienced incarceration. Overall, formerly incarcerated women are almost twice as likely to experience housing insecurity than formerly incarcerated men.
Black women in particular encounter high barriers after release due to issues including higher unemployment rates and the highest rate of sheltered homelessness, nearly 4 times the rate of White men and twice as high as Black men (Couloute, 2018).
Per data published by the Prison Policy Initiative, among formerly incarcerated women, Black women were 60% more likely than White women to have experienced sheltered homelessness after release. Those 45 and older face the highest rates of housing insecurity.
TPF Provides Support for Local Mothers
The Thurman Perry Foundation provided a 6 month supply of Enfamil baby formula and diapers to the family of a 4-month old baby whose mother is currently incarcerated at the Orleans Parish Justice Center, one of our local Girl Code facility partners. The child’s mother was the February 2025 winner of the Mother’s Day 365 program. The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office thanked us for helping this family in need and continuing to deliver hope to the mothers incarcerated at the center.
In honor of the 3rd anniversary of our Mother’s Day 365 program on Mother’s Day 2025, Executive Director Gabrielle Perry and Executive Board Secretary Nailah Starks packed brand new luggage with necessities such as sneakers, shower shoes, t-shirts, socks, and slippers to support the residents of A New Way Of Life, a New Orleans women’s reentry assistance facility founded by CNN Hero Susan Burton. We are proud to show these women coming home that we care by making sure they have what they need to start anew!
Mother’s Day 365 Cycle Open!
This month we will be giving a total of $1,000 to 2 hardworking moms (or soon to be moms) nationwide who have been impacted by incarceration. Apply below by 11:59PM PST February 5th!
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Spotlight on Denise Williams: A Journey of Resilience, Reunification, and Reentry Advocacy
Denise Williams is a dedicated advocate for justice-impacted women, a mother, an author, and the Housing Intake Coordinator at A New Way of Life Reentry Project – New Orleans.
As a recipient of the Mother’s Day 365 Housing Relief Program, she directly experienced how critical stable housing is in the reentry process. This support allowed her to not only rebuild her life but also extend a helping hand to countless other women facing similar challenges.
Having served 16 years at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women, she understands firsthand the deep, lasting impact of incarceration on individuals and families. Since regaining her freedom, Denise has committed herself to breaking cycles of trauma and providing tangible support for women transitioning back into society.
Her advocacy work is deeply personal. Denise is a mother of five children whom she was unable to raise due to her incarceration. Today, they stand strong as a family, a testament to the power of resilience and second chances.
In her role at A New Way of Life Reentry Project – New Orleans, Denise goes beyond the responsibilities of a Housing Intake Coordinator. She plays an active role in family reunification, employment strategy development, and connecting women with critical resources that support long-term stability.
Denise’s unwavering dedication has not gone unnoticed. She was honored with the Mother’s Day 365 Award from The Thurman Perry Foundation, a recognition that celebrates her strength as a mother and her impact as a leader in the reentry space.This award symbolizes not only her personal journey but also her commitment to uplifting other women who, like her, seek to rebuild their lives after incarceration.
As she moves forward, Denise remains dedicated to ensuring that formerly incarcerated women are not defined by their past but empowered by their future. With a deep understanding of the struggles of reentry and a heart full of compassion, she is changing lives—one woman at a time.
Congratulations to our 2022 Mother’s Day 365 recipients!
Tawanna J., GA
Vastoria P., IL
Kimberly V., RI
Laurie L., NY
Iyana T., LA
Traci B., GA
Yolanda F., LA
Jessy K., LA
Heather C., IL
Brittany L., CT
Rose B., OH
Christine E., IL
Sandra B., CA
Evelina W., NY
Alisha B., NV
Denise R., NY
Marsha K., VA
Erika P., KY
Tyeasha G., LA
Mashilah P., OK
India H., LA
Lashanda G., NY
Congratulations to our 2023 Mother’s Day 365 recipients!
Alicia W., NY
Lessie M., LA
Joyce O., FL
Denise R., NY
Yvonne C., TN
Tayari H., LA
Shaina H., LA
Frankie B., SC
Denise W., LA
Carlanda I., LA
Selina F., NY
Congratulations to our 2024 Mother’s Day 365 recipients!
Kattie C., NE
Jarmesha M., MS
LeShea T., LA
Beverly P., LA
Akilah P., MO
Congratulations to our 2025 Mother’s Day 365 recipients!
Marie C., CA
Iriel F., TX
Byrielle H., LA
Rebekah S., OR
A New Way of Life, LA
Margaret B., NC
Kattie C., NE
Xia J., KY
Help us end housing insecurity and improve the lives of system-impacted women and girls.
You can donate on a one-time or recurring basis. Learn how to become our Patron of the Month and sponsor housing relief for women who urgently need it by clicking the button below.
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Founded in memory of late U.S. Army Master Sergeant Thurman Perry Jr., The Thurman Perry foundation was created by his daughter, Gabrielle Perry, MPH, to support women and girls impacted by incarceration. We are a 501c(3) nonprofit organization. EIN 86-2519876.
