Richard Gosnell

Richard Gosnell always dreamed of becoming a carpenter, just like his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. But after his dad died when Gosnell was 6 and he “made a mistake” in his youth, Gosnell served nine years in prison.

Assuming his dreams were over, but not wanting to disappoint his family, Gosnell prepared in February 2016 to leave the prison system — with no work experience — guided only by a book about staying out of prison.

He was referred to Treasure Island Homeless Development Initiative (TIHDI), a nonprofit focused on eliminating barriers for low-income or formerly homeless individuals and families. Through TIHDI’s Construction Jobs and Economic Self Sufficiency Program, Gosnell was able to attend employment coaching sessions, workshops about financial literacy, and construction orientation. “Growing up, I didn’t have people to teach me how to balance a checkbook or get a job,” he said. “These are the things they teach you at TIHDI.”

Read Story Grant recipients make ‘meaningful impact on low-income communities’ on the Wells Fargo site. Click on the image below.