Keyway Center For Diversion and Re-entry

Keyway Center for Diversion and Reentry was established in 1997, originally called the Center for Women in Transition. It was founded by four women engaged in prison ministry who noticed a troubling cycle of recidivism. While Keyway initially focused on offering mentoring partnerships, its scope has broadened over time to encompass a comprehensive array of wraparound services. In 2022, the nonprofit changed its name to better express its mission for justice-involved individuals.

Keyway works with cisgender women as well as other gender minorities (trans women, trans men, nonbinary, etc.) in all phases of the criminal justice system. Currently program language mostly references women, but services are eligible to all women and gender minorities (excluding cisgender men).

Keyway offers supervised, apartment-style transitional housing for up to 44 individuals at Baker House and Schirmer House, along with permanent supportive housing for up to 21 participants at Sharon House. Keyway also works with participants living independently throughout the community. Participants receive one-on-one and group coaching focused on developing skills and knowledge that support housing stability. Topics such as understanding tenant rights, understanding leases, basic home maintenance, and being a good neighbor ensure that program participants have the resources necessary to maintain stable housing for themselves and their children.

Application forms and instructions can be found here. Transitional Housing:

• Offers: 2 apartment-style facilities, Baker House for 12 individuals and Schirmer House for 32, both locations ensure that participants receive comprehensive case management services and access to the complete spectrum of wraparound services offered by Keyway such as food stipends, transportation assistance, clothing, and other basic necessities until they can independently manage these expenses. Baker House and Schirmer House are specifically designed for justice-involved women and trans individuals -Requirements: 1) 18 or older; 2) Justice involved, current or within past 6 months (on probation or parole, released from jail or prison, pending warrants or criminal court cases); 3) Committed to participating in Keyway programming; 4) Committed to paying a monthly program fee of $400 once employment is secured

Recovery House / Sharon House:

• Offers: Case management, vocational support, behavioral health resources, and more. Functioning as a secure and substance-free co-living environment, Sharon House is specifically designed for justice-involved women and trans individuals.
• Requirements: 1) Age 18 or older; 2) Justice-involved, current or lifetime (on probation or parole, released from jail or prison, pending warrants or criminal court cases); 3) Committed to maintaining a substance-free lifestyle; 4) Willing to attend weekly house meetings; 5) Able to cover the monthly program fee of $525

Housing Navigation:

• Keyway’s Housing Navigator works with participants to secure safe, stable housing once they are ready to leave Keyway’s transitional housing. The Housing Navigator maintains a network of landlords and property managers throughout the St. Louis region who recognize that a criminal conviction should not prevent access to safe housing.

Staff completed one trans competency training with Trans Housing Initiative St. Louis (THISTL) in Sept. 2025, and in Oct 2025 initiated a policy review process, which is ongoing.