NCJ Number
204806
Date Published
2003
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This document discusses a residential facility in West Harlem (New York) for recently released inmates returning to New York City.
Abstract
A great deal of thought and research went into developing a comprehensive program plan that would address the needs of homeless ex-offenders. The planners (Fortune) wanted to develop a model for housing ex-offenders that could be implemented by the agency and replicated by other organizations across the country. The model features emergency and longer-term housing and includes a broad range of supportive services designed to stabilize the residents and assist them in building skills and attitudes to enable them to transition successfully from incarceration to the community. The Fortune Academy Residence and Service facility houses 59 formerly incarcerated persons. Eighteen beds are used for emergency housing clients -- people returning from incarceration that have absolutely nowhere else to go for the night. These clients will generally remain in the emergency housing beds from a few days up to several months. There are also 41 phased-permanent beds reserved for longer-term housing clients. They will remain in these units until they can be stabilized and linked to permanent housing -- a process expected to take from 6 to 18 months. The overarching goal of the program is to provide clients with a seamless transition from incarceration to permanent housing in the community. The population is predominantly African-American and Latino, has a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS, and is characterized by high levels of substance abuse. There is much to do to move the Fortune Academy from start-up to mature program. The agency is committed to evaluating both process and outcome, and to sharing the lessons that have been learned with others that wish to provide housing to released prisoners.