MORCA nominee emphasizes data, partnerships and mental-health supports for reentry

Tyler Chiquin, nominated to lead the Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizens Affairs (MORCA), described a lived background in reentry work and said the office must be strategic, data-driven and partnered across agencies. He said that in his roughly 40 days acting in the role he has begun cataloging intake and outcome data and plans to spend his first six months defining KPIs and integrating cross-agency data to reduce duplication and measure outcomes.

"My first six months is definitely dedicated and committed on looking at the KPIs," Chiquin said. He told committee members that the office has credibility with returning citizens and works with partners such as Volunteers of America to connect residents to transportation, benefits and documentation. Chiquin also emphasized mental-health services as a critical barrier: "the biggest barrier is mental health issues," he said, and argued housing alone is insufficient without appropriate behavioral-health supports.

Committee members asked about whether convictions should disqualify service in government; Chiquin said sustained evidence of community leadership and demonstrated results, not only past mistakes, should guide evaluation. On Project Homecoming—a bill that would require MORCA to run a reunification and housing-referral program—Chiquin said the office supports the bill’s goals but warned the committee that operational oversight and lease-up responsibilities could exceed MORCA’s current capacity; he pledged to submit written testimony to the record before the Jan. 27 deadline.