WHAT WE DO
With over 40 years of experience, Providence House is a leader in helping people overcome challenges and gain independence in the community. Our unique gender-responsive, trauma-informed approach to providing temporary housing for women who would otherwise be incarcerated, transitional housing for families experiencing homelessness, and permanent supportive housing for a range of clients.
Our professionally-trained staff serves nearly 700 people per year at seven locations in Brooklyn and one site in New Rochelle. We work closely with residents to provide support and develop strategies to help each regain their sense of inherent self-worth and a stability in their lives that permeates their relationships as well as their ability to maintain self-sufficiency.
Your support helps us to continue this work.
Family Transitional
Shelter Program
Our Transitional Shelter Program provides housing and services for over 59 families in Brooklyn and 10 families in New Rochelle. These clients have found themselves homeless due to a variety of life circumstances – loss of a job, lack of education, family disruption, trauma or mental illness.
Regardless of the circumstance, our staff works to create a physically and emotionally safe and supportive environment where residents can successfully face the challenges of stabilizing ones life. Our social services team works closely with each family to address concrete issues including making sure they’re connected to a primary care physician, securing a stable source of income and appropriate childcare. They help clients develop emotional management skills, strategies for making healthy choices in relationships, and finding opportunities for positive parent-child interactions. If there is a need for mental health services, our staff provides immediate support and makes referrals to mental health providers as indicated.
Transitional Shelter residents stay in our facilities on average six to eight months during which our Housing Specialist assists in searching for and obtaining safe and affordable housing. Our Aftercare Services follow-up with families for at least one year after leaving Providence House, allowing them to benefit from continuity as they adjust to independent living as well as early intervention should obstacles arise.
Permanent Supportive
Housing Program
Providence House provides 87 units of mixed-community housing that are a combination of Permanent Supportive Units and Affordable Housing Units.
Our Permanent Supportive Housing is made up of four facilities employing a congregate housing model in Brooklyn, NY. These units are for families and single adults who have histories of chronic homelessness, serious mental illness (SMI) and/or Substance Use Disorder (SUD). As we recognize that many of our clients come to our residences with histories of trauma, Providence House utilizes a trauma-informed approach which allows us to provide a safe, supportive environment for our residents to heal. We offer practical and essential life skills training in order to progress independence and achieve daily goals. Through our case management and clinical services, we assist individuals and families in developing coping skills to help manage behaviors, family reunification and a host of other services. Additionally, we connect our residents to a myriad of services within the community that include, but are not limited to, psychiatric services, therapy, and substance abuse treatment programs. The goal of our supportive housing program is to meet the varying needs of our residents while providing with the tools and training to become self-sufficient.
Our Affordable Housing units are studio and two-bedroom apartments available to members of the community that meet the low income housing requirements. These residents are able to utilize the services of the staff, should they need.
Women’s Justice
Program
The Women’s Justice Program has been committed to serving women involved in the criminal justice system since its foundation in 1979 and continues to evolve to meet the changing needs of our clients. Today the program operates three residences in Brooklyn serving two different populations in congregate style facilities.
The Prospect-Lefferts Gardens residence provides housing and supportive services for 16 women experiencing homelessness who would otherwise be held at Rikers Island while awaiting trial, most staying between nine - twelve months.
Our two Bed-Stuy residences serve 27 women who were recently released from Rikers Island, providing a safe, empowering environment for families to reconnect.
Our trauma-informed, gender-responsive staff is available onsite 24-hours a day, ensuring access to substance abuse or mental health treatment, life skills training, household budgeting and financial management, and any parole, probation, or court-mandated services. Once permanent housing is secured, Aftercare services are provided through regular phone contact or in-home visits to assist with the adjustment to independent housing.