Our Mission
At VSC, our mission is to walk alongside returning citizens at every step from incarceration to transformation. We provide the support, services, and guidance needed for clients to reconnect with family, strengthen community ties, and create new opportunities for the future.
We are guided by compassion and empathy for our clients and committed to helping them build the capacity and courage to change their lives—regardless of their past choices, present struggles, or future obstacles.
Our services are tailored to each client’s unique needs, risks, and strengths. We are committed to evidence-based, culturally responsive, family-focused, and trauma-informed care that restores dignity and fosters lasting change.
VSC ensures returning citizens have the resources they need to successfully reenter society, secure housing, find employment, and fully participate in their communities, all while advocating for systems reform in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area.
Our History
Founded in 1969 in Washington, D.C., Voices for a Second Chance began as the Visitors’ Services Center (VSC). A small group of volunteers saw firsthand the challenges families faced while waiting in the D.C. Jail “visiting line” and stepped in to help. From the beginning, our mission was to ensure that incarcerated residents could stay connected with their families and communities—a vital source of hope during difficult times.
As the needs of our city evolved, so did our work. VSC expanded its mission to provide comprehensive reentry services for D.C. residents returning home from incarceration, building collaborative partnerships with the District’s criminal justice system and community stakeholders.
In 2015, our name became Voices for a Second Chance, reflecting our broader commitment to Washington, D.C.’s returning citizens. Today, we continue to support residents both during incarceration and after release, while strengthening family and community ties in the area.
For more than 50 years, VSC has been part of Washington, D.C.’s fabric, helping tens of thousands of men and women rebuild their lives and create new beginnings.
