As someone involved in the field of social work, I find myself regularly challenged to help individuals and families cope and work. and address internal and external issues that may affect their ability to feel empowered. These factors can undermine their personal sense of well-being and self-esteem. Therefore, it is important that I am aware of the ways available to effectively assist my client while maintaining boundaries and professionalism. In my current dual position as resource specialist and intake coordinator, I work with formerly incarcerated individuals who regularly face all different types of oppression in their daily lives. When released from jail or prison, most feel essentially helpless. Many come out into the open and don't even have a home to go to. In addition to this, those in power (probation/parole officers, landowners, employers, etc.) often try to prevent them from achieving their goals of obtaining adequate housing, employment, training and education, etc., directly or inadvertently. Therefore, they are often forced into positions that can hinder their growth and development, as well as place them in unsafe, unhealthy and unsanitary environments. One client in particular that comes to mind was told by his parole officer that he could not return to his home. own home to live with his wife and children after serving 3 years in prison for a nonviolent crime. This was because his PO deemed the neighborhood they lived in as “unsafe” and “not conducive to his successful reentry into the community.” As a result, his only available choices were to enter the shelter system or be placed in a transitional housing facility with 39 other men. In both cases, his paper checks and rental assistance paid them during the month and they had no disputes that would justify a termination and subsequent eviction. This is also good for the shelter system because, since many thousands of people rely on three-quarters of shelter, the shelter does not have to absorb these people into their already overcrowded facilities. Additionally, although many times tenants are forced to attend an outpatient substance abuse treatment program, this can actually work to their advantage because after a minimum of 90 days in this program, they may qualify to begin the process for a application for supportive housing 2010e. They are applicable provided they are technically still considered homeless and/or at risk of becoming homeless and have successfully participated in and/or completed a treatment program