CARLSBAD — For the past three years, Bill Payne has helped former inmates change their life’s trajectory through sober living, workforce training and education opportunities.
Payne, 56, of Carlsbad, is the CEO of San Diego-based Second Chance, a nonprofit specializing in providing formerly incarcerated individuals with access to resources necessary to become self-sufficient.
According to Payne, Second Chance is for people ready to change their lives and engage with the organization’s programs and services. For the past 30 years, Second Chance has offered youth and adults sober living, intervention programs, job readiness training and employment placement services.
“We’ve got people taking accountability for their criminal behavior who are ready to change their lives,” Payne said. “We provide the support and services they need to become a thriving and contributing member of society.”
After serving in the U.S. Air Force, Payne previously worked in corporate information technology, holding positions at Pepsi, Dell, Whole Foods and Amylin Pharmaceuticals in San Diego. Payne and his wife moved to the area in 2006, joining as volunteers at Second Chance.
Payne said Second Chance’s primary focus is on substance abusers exiting the penal system, many of whom face numerous barriers for those looking to change their lives after prison. For example, those formerly incarcerated can’t get a job without an address, and they can’t get an address without a job — a difficult Catch-22.
Judy Lawton, who serves on the board, said Second Chance has been thriving under Payne’s leadership, which she described as calm and steady, and the nonprofit is financially healthy after some difficult years. As a result, the nonprofit has offered new programs and received grants not traditionally pursued in the past.
Lawton said Payne’s leadership qualities and vision brought stability and progress to the organization.
“He’s very much a forward thinker,” Lawton said. “He brings forth some great ideas and follows through with them. He doesn’t just pay lip service. Nothing really phases this guy.”
The organization has grown to offer eight programs designed to help individuals become self-sufficient by focusing on housing, re-entry and education and workforce programs.
Since 2006, Payne said several challenging trends have formed the organization to adapt.
“The opioid crisis, the methamphetamine crisis … and the prevalence of homelessness and those are somewhat inter-related,” Payne said. “The trends of taking action with regards to social justice have become more prominent and all of that has resulted in a focus and investment, especially at the county level … to find better ways to address the inter-related factors.”
With a focus on prevention, Second Chance also provides transitional sober living housing with direct referrals from the San Diego County Sheriff and parole departments.
