According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) 7,225,800 people at yearend 2009 were on probation, in jail or prison, or on parole — about 3.1% of adults in the U.S. resident population. 2,297,400 were incarcerated in U.S. prisons and jails. The U.S. incarceration rate was 748 inmates per 100,000 U.S. residents, or 0.75% . The USA has the highest total documented prison and jail population in the world. By comparison, Canada incarcerates just over 100 inmates per 100,000
residents. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_prison_population
The mission of the Fortune Society, founded in 1967 in New York City, “is to support successful reentry from prison and promote alternatives to incarcerations, thus strengthening the fabric of our communities.” Their slogan is “Building people not prisons.”
Their latest housing project, Castle Gardens, is a mixed-use affordable, supportive and green apartment complex in West Harlem, which celebrated its grand opening in September 2010. It provides 114 apartments for homeless and formerly incarcerated individuals and low income families as well as essential services at the same site. It offers a computer lab, Wi-Fi, library, community room, landscaped roof terraces and play area and a 25,000 square foot service centre that provides all residents with counselling services, case management, financial planning and other essential life skill development courses. The aim of Castle Gardens is to create long-term housing solutions for people with histories of homelessness and incarceration, and their families.
According to The Fortune Society website, approximately 70% of its 190 employees have served jail time and/or have histories of substance abuse or homelessness and more than 80% are persons of colour. Check out this New York Times article about the Castle Gardens’ super, Chris Carney, who is walking the talk.