For nearly 40 years, Homeboy Industries has brought hope, training, and support to thousands of people who were previously incarcerated or involved in gangs. Its innovative mix of social enterprise, reentry services, and therapeutic community has grown into a worldwide model for recovery and reentry.
The First Iteration
Father Gregory Boyle recognized, soon after becoming a pastor in what was considered at the time the poorest of Catholic parishes in Los Angeles, the need for help among former gang members seeking to improve their lives. Individuals exiting the criminal and juvenile justice systems had no employment or educational opportunities. In 1988, Father Boyle founded Homeboy Industries to provide tools for their future.
“Father Greg saw early on that if people are doing purposeful, meaningful work, they don’t ‘hang, bang, or slang,’” explains Alison Lass, Manager of Global Homeboy Network and Media Relations at Homeboy Industries. “That belief has stayed with our organization and guided its growth.”
Fast forward to 1992, which saw the opening of the first of Homeboy Industries’ many social enterprises. In response to the riots in Los Angeles, a community member’s desire to help resulted in the purchase of an abandoned bakery near the former headquarters of Homeboy Industries. The bakery provides on-the-job training and generates income to support the mission of Homeboy Industries. It also opened the door to a host of other social enterprises, including Homegirl Café, electronics recycling, and silk screen and embroidery.
Puppy Fades, a dog grooming business, is the most recent social enterprise to launch. It is the brainchild of one of the trainees who worked with dogs while incarcerated and commented on how much healing it provided. “We really listen to the folks we serve,” Lass points out. “That one conversation manifested into another opportunity to provide fulfilling employment.”
All participants of Homeboy Industries’ 18-month program, which currently serves approximately 500 people, matriculate into job training. Within 3 to 6 months, trainees start working 3 days per week at one of the social enterprises. Graduates of the program are welcome to work 5 days a week as a core staff member in the social enterprise. Those who choose to move on from Homeboy Industries are offered workforce development training (e.g., building a resume, preparing for interviews, securing internships), adult general educational development (GED) and literacy training, and pathways to trade schools.
Evolution of the Model
Training and skills-based work are important, but no more so than self-work on healing and wellness. Each person is supported by a team that may include a case manager, navigator, mental health clinician, and legal professional. They support participants with establishing case plans, which include individualized goals, and follow their progress in learning the “hard and soft” skills of the job and coping with the stressors of transition.
“Our tag line used to read ‘Nothing stops a bullet like a job,’ which is very true,” Lass shares. “But we now recognize that it is far more than that: Nothing stops a bullet like a whole person who is safe, seen, and cherished. With that comes a commitment to promoting wellness of the individual and the entire community.”
Work hours are scheduled to allow trainees to attend to their wellness, which might involve traditional clinician therapy, Narcotics Anonymous, or Alcoholics Anonymous, and any number of non-traditional interventions provided onsite, such as dog therapy. In addition to the daily offerings of recovery activities, a quarterly wellness day offers Reiki, sound bath therapy, massage, acupuncture, meditation, and other healing options.
Both trainees and staff benefit from these services. More than 70 percent of Homeboy Industries’ senior staff have completed the 18-month program. Staff who have not been promoted from within have lived experience with criminal justice, gang involvement, or mental and substance use disorders.
Impact of the Program
In 2024, 897 people participated in the 18-month program, but this number represents only a fraction of Homeboy Industries’ impact (see Figure 1). One of its most popular services is free tattoo removal, which not only helps individuals disassociate themselves from gang involvement but also exposes them to other services that may redirect their lives. Moreover, it provides an opportunity for medical professional volunteers to give back to the community.
Homeboy Industries’ approach is catching on, fueled by its own success and an annual conference for people to learn about the model and share best practices. The Global Homeboy Network, established in 2015, currently comprises 10 countries and 38 U.S. states/territories, all of which are committed to reducing recidivism through kinship, compassion, and productivity.
| Key Metrics of Program Impact | |
|---|---|
| 49,618 | Education classes attended |
| 17,315 | Case management appointments |
| 9,637 | Community clients serviced |
| 9,107 | Tattoo removal treatments |
| 4,768 | Mental and substance use disorder treatment sessions |
| 3,679 | 1:1 legal consultations |
Figure 1. Key Metrics of Homeboy Industries’ Program Impact. Source: Homeboy Industries Impact Report 2025
For more information about Homeboy Industries, visit their website.