Women who seek WPA assistance frequently
cite housing as their primary or most
urgent need. Given the significant barriers
to affordable housing for women with
criminal records, WPA seeks to develop
a portfolio of housing options that addresses
the housing goals of our clients.
Sunflower House
Sunflower House is an affordable,
self-governed permanent sober residence
for employed former prisoners. WPA and
Housing + Solutions, Inc. worked in partnership
to develop the residence. Sunflower House,
located in East New York, houses eight
women who must pay rent, maintain sobriety
and employment, and share in managing
the house.
Developed on the principles and traditions
of self-help, Sunflower House is a permanent
housing environment where women with
criminal justice histories and in recovery
can help themselves through helping one
another. Residents cultivate positive
lasting friendships and form supportive
networks through living together. They
also take on various neighborhood community
service projects.
Tenants are required to participate
in courses on budgeting and building
maintenance and must attend regular house
meetings where decisions are made about
house governance and applications by
prospective tenants are reviewed. Residents
are encouraged to seek social and other
services in the community such as counseling
for life trauma, domestic violence, substance
abuse, and reunification with children.
WPA staff who work at the nearby Brooklyn
Community Office (BCO) maintain
a supportive relationship with Sunflower
House, but no staff members live in the
house. The residents are responsible
for learning to live together, governing
themselves, and supporting one another.
Sunflower House was created as a pilot program
with the goal of developing a highly replicable
model of affordable permanent housing for
criminal justice-involved women. WPA is
actively looking to expand the Sunflower House
model to create a network of affordable
residences based on communal self-empowerment.
Ultimately, this project will significantly
expand the range of permanent housing options
for women leaving the criminal justice
system.
