The solution to New York’s widespread problem of homeless former prisoners is to provide a safe place to live with support, according to citylimits.org reports.
The article points to a program by the Fortune Society in West Harlem for 62 formerly incarcerated homeless persons.
“Residents are required to be involved in 35 hours of constructive activities every week. They undergo daily drug screening. Each person living in our house is involved in group and individual counseling. They get mental health services and substance treatment services,” the article reported.
“They also get a lot of love … There is an absolute rule of no violence and no threat of violence.”
ICE reported “24,476 of the 185,507 inmates in the federal Bureau of Prisons system were not citizens…” THE NEW YORK TIMES Dec. 22, 2017
The story says 26,000 people are released from prison on parole and return to New York City each year. Three-fourths of them have substance and/or mental health issues, the story said.
Over half are homeless and end up in large barracks-style shelters where violence and drug use are common. The cost is from $100 to $300 per day. Reoffenders can head back to Rikers Island, where the cost is $742 a day.
http://sanquentinnews.com/nys-solitary-confinement-of-youth-persists-under-different-name/