This story is part of Ideastream Public Media’s “Sound of Us” series covering housing and advocacy in Canton, produced in partnership with Canton for All People . Learn more at ideastream.org/soundofus.

Hundreds of people are about to gather in a large wood-paneled ballroom in a Cleveland suburb on a sunny Saturday morning.

They’re arriving from across the state to learn about the legal obstacles that keep formerly incarcerated people from succeeding when re-entering society.

Shauntae Metcalf of Canton is one of the speakers. She was formerly incarcerated herself for a kidnapping and abduction charge back in 2015. When she was released from prison seven years ago, she wanted to start her life again — and her biggest challenge was finding secure housing.

“The system is rigged,” M

See Full Page