Formerly incarcerated leaders pitch 'Legacy House' to San Mateo commission as step‑down housing for young adults
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Summary
Create Innovations presented a West Oakland Legacy House model that pairs formerly incarcerated mentors with young adults leaving custody; commissioners praised the proposed LRP and asked how San Mateo County could refer eligible youth and support funding and evaluation.
Create Innovations, a nonprofit led by formerly incarcerated founders, presented the "Pathway/Legacy House" model at the March 24 San Mateo County Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission meeting and asked the county to consider referrals and partnership.
John Lam, executive director, described a West Oakland least‑restrictive placement (LRP) he said accommodates four young adults (ages 18–25) with two live‑in mentors, private rooms and bathrooms, education and workforce supports, and ongoing reentry services. "We provide mentorship, education, navigation, housing, stabilization," Lam said, describing the program as led by people with lived experience and structured to reduce recidivism.
A short video and testimonials introduced Ines Alvarado, a mentor, and Eric, the house manager, who walked commissioners through living spaces and program routines. Commissioners asked about eligibility, referrals, capacity and funding. Lam said the program is intended as a step‑down placement from custody and that other counties typically use probation funds or state funding to contract LRPs; he cited county payments in other jurisdictions commonly described as ranging from about $14,000 to $20,000 per month per resident in some programs.
Commissioners praised the approach and noted gaps in local least‑restrictive placements. One commissioner said the model addresses trauma‑informed needs by ensuring individual rooms and life‑skills training. A researcher present (speaker 17) confirmed Create Innovations had partnered with UCSF and UCLA on a research‑driven design and encouraged San Mateo to explore adoption or referral agreements.
Lam said Create Innovations seeks conversations with probation, the court and county leaders to refine eligibility and services, and offered tours of the Legacy House. Commissioners expressed interest in arranging visits and following up on potential contracts, referral processes and coordination with the county's third‑party evaluators.
