Breaking Cycles of Recidivism Through Whole-Person Support

Hope Stays is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing workforce development, wraparound services, and community support for formerly incarcerated men rebuilding their lives in Northeast Ohio.

Founded in 2024, Hope Stays exists to deepen and broaden the impact of Hope Seals, a second-chance employment company that has served Northeast Ohio since 2020.

Our Model: Hope Seals + Hope Stays

Hope Seals provides daily employment and hands-on job training.
Hope Stays delivers the programmatic and relational support that allows employment to become sustainable.

Together, we address the real-life barriers returning citizens face when re-entering the workforce and their communities — creating a clear pathway from incarceration to long-term stability, belonging, and growth.

Employment + Support + Accountability = Lasting Change

What We Do

Hope Stays supports justice-impacted men through:

  • Workforce readiness and job retention support
  • Daily meals and basic needs stabilization
  • Personal development, life skills, and accountability programming
  • Connections to mental health, addiction recovery, and legal resources
  • Transportation support and community engagement

Our programs are designed to reduce recidivism, strengthen the local workforce, and improve neighborhood stability across Northeast Ohio.

Why It Matters

Nationally, up to 70% of men returning from incarceration will reoffend and return to prison without meaningful support, stability, and community. Many are eager to work, but the absence of consistent care, accountability, and healthy relationships makes long-term success difficult to sustain.

Hope Stays exists to directly impact recidivism by treating men as whole people — not just workers or statistics. By combining employment with wraparound support, healthy routines, mentorship, and community connection, we help interrupt cycles of incarceration and create pathways toward lasting stability for individuals, families, and neighborhoods.

Current Priorities & Future Growth

Hope Stays is actively working toward measurable, community-driven outcomes through the following focus areas:

Workforce Development

  • Expanding job training, skill development, and career pathways
  • Increasing job retention and long-term employment success

Housing Pathways & Job Training

  • Pursuing housing opportunities that create additional job training and workforce development experiences
  • Expanding access to safe, stable, and affordable housing through Hope Stays for men transitioning from incarceration

Whole-Person Health & Stability

  • Redefining holistic support by addressing physical, mental, and relational well-being
  • Providing daily meals, guided workouts, and structured opportunities for healthy routines
  • Connecting individuals with mentors and positive community to support personal growth and accountability

Transportation & Access

  • Removing barriers that prevent individuals from maintaining employment and accessing services

Industry & Program Expansion

  • Growing industry offerings to create additional employment opportunities and skills training
  • Strengthening partnerships that support long-term sustainability and regional economic impact

Our Commitment

Hope Stays is committed to operating with integrity, transparency, and long-term sustainability. We work in partnership with employers, service providers, faith communities, and civic organizations to create practical, relational solutions that strengthen individuals, families, and Northeast Ohio as a whole.


Hope Stays is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in NE Ohio.

[email protected] (216) 294-9092

7930 Euclid Chardon Road, Kirtland, Ohio 44094

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The People behind the scenes

Meet our board

Hope Stays is guided by a committed leadership team and Board of Directors who bring lived experience, professional expertise, and a shared belief in the power of community, accountability, and restoration.

Our board provides strategic oversight, fiduciary responsibility, and mission alignment to ensure Hope Stays operates with integrity, transparency, and long-term sustainability.

Richard Smith

Co-Founder/Board Member

Richard is a co-owner and operator of Hope Seals and a leader shaped by lived experience within the justice system. After rebuilding his own life following extended time in the juvenile system, Richard brings discipline, authenticity, and hard-earned wisdom to his work helping other men navigate reentry with dignity, purpose, and practical support. He is a devoted husband and father of two who serves faithfully in his local church and practices servant leadership everywhere he goes.

Valerie Smith

Co-Founder/Board Member

Valerie is a co-founder of Hope Seals and Hope Stays and a passionate advocate for removing barriers that keep individuals and families stuck in cycles of instability. With a heart for cutting through red tape and being a voice for the overlooked and underserved, Valerie works to bridge systems, people, and resources in ways that create real access and lasting change. She is a wife, mother of two, and a faith-driven leader committed to servant leadership, community restoration, and generational impact.

Danielle Acosta

Board Member

Danielle has over 20 years of experience teaching, training, renovating, designing, real estate management and investment. Danielle is a dedicated wife and mother of two beautiful daughters who strives to be an example for them that they can achieve whatever they set their minds and hearts upon. She is an adventurous go-getter who has traveled the world, serving and giving every step of the way. Danielle’s huge heart and strong work ethic has opened her eyes to the vast needs in her hometown.

Alison Johnson

Board Member

Alison is known for bringing structure, encouragement, and accountability to the spaces she serves. Through her background in family-focused community and ministry leadership, she offers a relational lens marked by wisdom and compassion. Guided by her faith and her family’s personal experience with incarceration, she is dedicated to advancing hope, dignity, and restoration.

Eric Johnson

Board Member

Eric is an Application Security Consultant at KeyBank and has spent more than 15 years renovating residential properties. He brings construction knowledge, hands-on skill, and technological insight to the Hope Stays team. His broad experience and strong problem-solving ability make him a versatile contributor, who bridges practical execution with strategic thinking.

Advisory Roles

Currently Incarcerated

Contribute real-life experience to inform strategy, program design, and community engagement. Help ensure Hope Stays’ approach reflects dignity, responsibility, and long-term impact.

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