The federal Payroll Protection Program, designed to support businesses and organizations slammed by the impact of COVID-19, leaves out companies and groups run by people who have been in prison.
It’s an omission that endangers both nonprofits and commercial enterprise.s
Caliph Muab-El, pictured above, entered the Wisconsin prison system at 15 as the youngest person to be convicted in the state as an adult in a shooting. He walked out 15 years later with no guidance on how to build a meaningful life.
That inspired him to found Breaking Barriers Mentoring. Now 38, he has established a network for formerly incarcerated youth who become homeless on release so that they face an easier path than he did.
Now he is facing an additional barrier to continuing to provide support.
“This was a big blow to us, when we found out that our organization didn’t qualify because of the Payroll Protection Program excluding directly impacted people who are currently on supervision and that have a felony,” Muab-El said during a group telebriefing for formerly incarcerated business owners who have been rejected by the PPP.
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