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Cape Town – Kim Kardashian is once again using her celebrity power to positively influence criminal justice reform.
The reality TV star has agreed to pay five years of rent for Matthew Charles, a source confirmed to E! News.
Charles is a former inmate who was denied housing after being the first to be released under new prison reform laws. He was granted clemency after serving 20 of his 35 year sentence for drug and weapons charges.
Charles shared the news on Facebook on Sunday, writing: "Kim Kardashian-West, through Tracy, said they heard about my situation. Was moved and has decided to help me. And to me in an unbelievable way."
SEE THE FULL POST HERE:
(Click here to see it on Facebook)
According to an article by Nashville Tennessean, also shared on Charles' Facebook, the Tennessee man was released from prison on 3 January under a new law known as the First Step Act.
Since then he has been able to buy a car as well as secure a full-time job with Families Against Mandatory Minimums — a nonprofit advocacy group seeking to create "a more fair and effective justice system that respects our American values of individual accountability and dignity while keeping communities safe".
He has however, not been able to secure a rental agreement.
"We regret that we were unable to approve your request," a letter addressed to Charles from a leasing agency read. "This leasing recommendation is because of one or more applicant's prior criminal history or rental housing related civil record history."
SEE CHARLES' POST ABOUT HIS STRUGGLE HERE:
(Click here to see it on Facebook)
Tim Hardiman, a senior producer at CMT in Nashville, exclusively told Us Weekly on Monday: "Kim reached out privately to Matthew after hearing he was having a hard time getting approved for an apartment and has generously offered to pay five years of his rent."
Charles plans to save enough money to buy a home in the five years that Kim will pay for his rent, TMZ reports.
