TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) -- For sex offenders living in Leon County, getting reintegrated into society means connecting with the right people.
The Insiders team looked at why finding housing and employment is much more difficult than most think.
For Joe Bowick, a registered sex offender, it has been a struggle to escape the stigma attached to his past. He became a registered sex offender in 2008 after being released from prison.
He was convicted of a lewd and lascivious charge and served 8 years in prison.
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, 590 registered sex offenders live in Leon County. The term "sex offender" applies to those guilty of various charges, including sex with a minor and child molestation.
Once offenders complete their prison sentence, the road to recovery comes with challenges.
In Bowick's case, he said he was with a woman who lied about her age. However, he said he has left that in the past and has found help through CARE Tallahassee.
"CARE has provided accountability and support. You know, they've been a great support system for me," said Bowick.
CARE Tallahassee, a faith-based organization, is the only organization in the county that is legally approved to house sex offenders on probation.
In its 11-year history, more than 600 men have come through the program, but the organization said finding resources for these men are few and far between.
George Schwender, resident manager at CARE Tallahassee said, "When they first get here, they don't have clothes. They don't have bedding, they don't have hygiene, they don't have anything."
Housing comes with certain restrictions for sex offenders like the distance from schools or the proper zoning of the building. For those who can't find a legal place to stay, it's back to prison.
"There are men in the Florida prison system now that have done their time and have committed no new crimes, but they cannot comply with having an appropriate address to live at," said Glenn Burns, executive director at the Good Samaritan Network.
The Good Samaritan Network provides sex offenders with housing and work opportunities. He said that fighting the stigma is half the battle, because sometimes, the label comes without having any sex.
Burns also said, "Gainful employment is very difficult when you have any kind of felony background, but especially if you have a sexual offense of any kind. Again, nobody is going to listen to what kind it was. They're just going to say, 'He's a sex offender.'"
Finding and keeping work has been difficult for Bowick, but he said he refused to let being a sex offender define him.
"We're still human beings. We make mistakes, and if given a chance, then we not so much redeem ourselves, but being able to, you know, take responsibility for those actions," said Bowick.
Bowick also said he's working on his bachelor's degree in business administration. He has a goal of starting his own organization to help sex offenders.
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