More that 75% of incarcerated women
are mothers of children under the age
of 18. Although they are physically separated
from their children, family and communities,
the anticipated joy of reunification
is a tremendous source of hope and motivation
during incarceration. WPA supports a
woman’s right to be heard and participate
in decisions related to the care and
custody of her children, regardless of
whether reunification will occur. WPA’s Sarah
Powell Huntington House Family
Reunification Residence and Family
Support Services staff can help a woman address the family
court, criminal court, housing, and public
assistance requirements that she must
meet in order to realize her custody
or reunification goals.
It is costly to remove women from the
community; in addition to the astronomical
cost of incarcerating a person ($32,000
a year in New York State prison and about
$68,000 in the New York City jail), it
creates tremendous disruption for a woman
and her family during incarceration and
leads to obstacles after she is released
from prison. WPA believes that
Alternatives
to Incarceration are highly desirable
because they save taxpayers money while
offering a chance for women to learn
to live as law-abiding, contributing
members of the community.
In prison, a woman must adapt to a new
culture and community. She is usually
far from her home and family and is neither
consulted about nor permitted to make
decisions about issues mundane or critical.
Upon release, particularly following
a long sentence, she needs time and support
to re-learn community norms and to learn
about the changes in the community that
affect her everyday life. This acclimation
period can be extended, delaying a woman’s
entry to the workforce, permanent housing,
or other activities that improve her
life and the community in which she lives.
WPA’s evolving portfolio of Permanent
Housing options seeks to
provide innovative, affordable solutions
to women who are making this transition.
Learn more about Residential and Family
Services at WPA:
• Alternatives to Incarceration
• Sarah
Powell Huntington House Family
Reunification Residence
• Family Support Services
• Permanent
Housing
For more information, contact:
Paula Sarro
Director of Program Operations for Residential and Family Services
(646) 336-6100, ext. 7733
psarro@wpaonline.org
