Christian Recovery Aftercare Ministry (CRAM)
Owner: Juanita Edrington-Grant
Location: Harrisburg, PA
Business: Nonprofit Organization
Purpose of Loan: Building Purchase
Impact: Economic Security
Juanita Edrington-Grant discovered her life’s mission over 15 years ago when she founded Christian Recovery Aftercare Ministry (CRAM). A non-profit organization headquartered in Harrisburg, CRAM provides pre-release and re-entry services to ex-offenders and their families.
In 2015, Juanita approached Community First Fund for help with financing the purchase of a former healthcare center. Her vision was to transform the property into a community center that could provide multiple services under one roof. In 2018, that vision became reality with the opening of The Harrisburg Uptown Building (HUB).
Today, the 18,000 square foot HUB houses CRAM and other non-profit and for-profit service providers that offer employment assistance, work-based training, computer and financial literacy classes, pre-GED tutoring, and legal services to assist ex-offenders facing additional barriers to obtaining housing, employment and other basic needs. These programs are vital in helping re-entrants secure quality employment and achieve economic security, which results in reduced recidivism and strengthened communities.