Starting Over Inc Helps Formerly Incarcerated Individuals
Founded in 2009, the nonprofit supports people returning from prison with housing, employment, and wealth-building opportunities.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Criminal Justice
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Vonya Quarles established the nonprofit Starting Over, Inc. in 2009 to assist formerly incarcerated individuals with essential needs like housing and employment. The organization now facilitates permanent equity through its recently established community land trust.
Why it matters
The model addresses a critical gap in transitional services by providing a pathway to generational wealth for those who often face severe financial barriers upon release. The initiative was inspired by Quarles' own path to obtaining a law license after her involvement with an advocacy program.
Starting Over, Inc. was founded in 2009 to provide resources like food, clothing, and housing, and the organization launched the Ruchell Cinqué Magee Community Land Trust in 2025.
The players
Vonya Quarles
She is the founder of Starting Over, Inc. and an attorney who advocates for the rights and needs of formerly incarcerated people.
Starting Over, Inc.
This nonprofit organization provides transitional housing, employment development, and various resources to support individuals leaving the prison system.
Ruchell Cinqué Magee
He is a former prisoner who spent 60 years incarcerated and was released in his 80s, serving as the namesake for the organization's community land trust.
The details
The organization provides comprehensive support, including school supplies and job development, to help individuals overcome the challenges of re-entry. In 2025, the group founded a land trust named after Ruchell Magee, who spent 60 years in prison and was released in his 80s, to provide home ownership options.
Timeline
2009: Vonya Quarles established Starting Over, Inc.
2011: Quarles participated in the Women Organizing for Justice and Opportunity program.
2013: Quarles obtained her license to practice law.
2025: Starting Over, Inc. founded the community land trust.
Legal Context
These initiatives reflect a shift toward community-based re-entry support that extends beyond the mandates of the First Step Act. The effort moves beyond basic social services by utilizing land trust mechanisms to provide long-term housing security.
The establishment of community land trusts provides a new model for local neighborhoods to increase housing stability for returning citizens. Residents can observe how these trusts utilize local property to prevent homelessness and foster long-term economic integration.
The takeaway
Building generational wealth is a critical, often overlooked component of successful re-entry for formerly incarcerated individuals. Organizations that pivot from immediate aid to permanent housing solutions demonstrate a shift in how communities support long-term reintegration.
Further reading
For broader context on current re-entry efforts, visit the Criminal Justice section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Los Angeles Sentinel.
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