Osborne Association and the NYC Department of Social Services Unveil Fulton Community Reentry Center

(April 24, New York, NY) – Osborne Association and the NYC Department of Social Services officially unveiled the Fulton Community Reentry Center today, a groundbreaking initiative offering comprehensive reentry support and temporary transitional housing to formerly incarcerated men over the age of 50.

Located in a historic seven-story brick building at 1511 Fulton Avenue, Fulton breathes new life into a structure that once housed a state prison. The project, developed in partnership with the NYC Department of Social Services and the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, backed by a coalition of funders including New York Empire State Development Corporation, the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, the New York City Council, The Bureau of Justice Assistance, and Trinity Church Wall Street, represents a shift in approach to reentry support for older adults.

The Fulton Community Reentry Center is a shining example of adaptive reuse, as the building’s storied history stretches back to 1907 when it was originally constructed by the Bronx Episcopalian Church as a church house and meeting place. Throughout the years, the structure has served various purposes, including a Young Men’s Hebrew Association and a nursing home. Now, it has been transformed into a state-of-the-art facility offering temporary housing and support services to recently released individuals, disrupting the prison-to-shelter pipeline.

Fulton’s unique program model builds on the city’s commitment to implementing innovative shelter models, investing in not-for-profit owned shelters, and continually enhancing the delivery of services for some of our most vulnerable New Yorkers by meeting them where they are. This program taps into the Osborne Association’s rich and extensive history of advocating for and working to support New Yorkers with a history of criminal justice involvement who face tremendous barriers to accessing permanent housing. This first-of-its-kind shelter will provide residents with services tailored to people returning from long-term incarceration, including peer mentors to walk alongside residents in their first days home. The center will offer a range of services, including:

• Employment readiness and independent living skills courses,

• Enrollment for benefits and referrals for health care needs and substance-use counseling,

• Support finding permanent housing and employment,

• Community-building and recreational activities.

All of these services will be available onsite, with additional resources accessible nearby at the Osborne Association’s Bronx headquarters.

The Fulton Community Reentry Center aligns with Osborne Association’s mission to transform lives, communities, and the criminal legal system. As prison populations age, Fulton’s innovative approach will bolster the continuum of housing options available to formerly incarcerated individuals. Moreover, the center’s integration into the community serves as a platform for programming and an engine of economic revitalization.

The facility is set to welcome residents in May 2024, with a capacity for 140 residents. Osborne Association expects to reach capacity quickly. By focusing on the unique needs of older adults returning home from incarceration, Fulton Community Reentry Center is poised to make a significant impact on the lives of its residents even while defining a new, replicable reentry housing model for the nation.

“Today marks a significant milestone in our work to imagine a more supportive, inclusive, and effective reentry process for people returning to communities after incarceration, in some cases after decades of being away. Our long-held dream for this extraordinary center originates in our unwavering belief in the potential of every individual to contribute positively to society, coupled with the understanding that the path to successful reentry and reintegration is too often blocked by sanctioned and systemic barriers. With the opening of Fulton Community Reentry Center, we offer a beacon of hope and a foundation for progress – for residents, this community, and society more broadly,” said Osborne Interim President and CEO Jonathan Monsalve.

“The Fulton Community Reentry Center exemplifies the kind of visionary and holistic solutions that are essential to the meaningful revitalization of historic city infrastructure to provide critical services for some of our most vulnerable New Yorkers,” said Department of Social Services Commissioner Molly Wasow Park. “We are incredibly proud of our partnership with the Osborne Association, and we know that their extensive experience creating stable pathways to housing for formerly incarcerated New Yorkers will significantly improve outcomes for the residents of this shelter. As we continue to make vital investments in our not-for-profit providers, innovative shelter models, and high-quality infrastructure while expanding access to quality care and tailored supports to address the unique needs of New Yorkers experiencing homelessness, we are grateful to all our incredible partners and the community for their years-long commitment to bringing this project to life.”

“The transition of the former Fulton Correctional Facility to the new Fulton Community Reentry Center is a meaningful and positive reuse of a closed institution. This reentry center will remove a number of barriers faced by returning undomiciled citizens, providing them with safe housing and supportive services. We look forward to continuing our longstanding partnership with the Osborne Association, leveraging resources that allow individuals leaving correctional facilities to successfully rebuild their lives and transition to more stable situations thanks to the Fulton Community Reentry Center,” said New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Acting Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III.

“I am honored to celebrate the grand opening of the new Fulton Reentry Community Center after almost a decade since the Osborne Association received the keys to the former correctional facility with a promise to repurpose it. I am proud to have secured the transfer of this facility to Osborne back in 2013 and the support we received from former and current elected officials. I remain inspired by the mission of this center to help formerly incarcerated New Yorkers reenter society with the resources and support they deserve to be productive members of their communities,” said State Senator Gustavo Rivera. “This center offers a future to our neighbors returning home and serves as a symbol for the Bronx that we can reverse recidivism by investing in economic stability.”

“Trinity Church Wall Street is proud to have supported Osborne Association in opening the Fulton Community Reentry Center,” said Bea de la Torre, Chief Philanthropy Officer at Trinity Church Wall Street. “Quality housing, good jobs, and strong supportive services are essential for New Yorkers impacted by the criminal legal system, just as they are for all New Yorkers. Osborne’s transformation of this facility through public-private partnership gives it a second chance as a symbol of justice, providing dignity and care to people reentering into the community.”

“The much-anticipated opening of this building as a reentry facility will result in impactful and transformative change for the Bronx,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “Formerly justice-involved New Yorkers will soon have the necessary tools to successfully transition back into society and become proactive members of our community while simultaneously strengthening our neighborhoods. I want to thank the Osborne Society, NYC Department of Homeless Services, New York Empire State Development Corporation, the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, the New York City Council, and Trinity Church Wall Street for their support of reentry services for justice-involved New Yorkers and for reimagining this space into something beneficial for our community.”

About Osborne Association: Osborne Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the criminal justice system and supporting individuals, families, and communities affected by incarceration. Through advocacy, direct service, and policy reform, Osborne works to create opportunities for people to heal, grow, and thrive. For more information, please visit www.osborneny.org

About the New York City Department of Social Services: The Department of Social Services, comprised of the Human Resources Administration (HRA) and the Department of Homeless Services (DHS), serves millions of New Yorkers annually through a broad range of services that aim to address poverty, income inequality, and prevent homelessness. HRA serves over three million New Yorkers through the administration of more than 12 major public assistance programs. DHS oversees a broad network of shelters, services, and outreach programs dedicated to helping New Yorkers experiencing homelessness get back on their feet. DSS is central to the City’s mission to expand opportunity for more New Yorkers, address income inequality, help New Yorkers experiencing homelessness stabilize their lives, and ensure that vulnerable New Yorkers receive the benefits and assistance for which they may be eligible.

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