For release: 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 21, 2024

Contact: Chip Partner, SCPO advisory board

585.749.0536 (m) cpartner61@gmail.com

SERVICES FOR JUSTICE-INVOLVED HOMELESS TO CONTINUE

‘FOR A GENERATION TO COME’ WITH $2 MILLION AWARD

(ROCHESTER, NY) – The Rochester region’s premier support program for individuals who are homeless and re-entering the community after incarceration will sustain services well into the future, thanks to a $2 million award from Mackenzie Scott’s Yield Giving fund, officials of Spiritus Christi Prison Outreach (SCPO) announced.

SCPO is one of 361 small nonprofits, out of more than 6,000 applicants from across the United States, to receive $1 or $2 million awards announced earlier this week by Yield Giving Open Call. Recipients were chosen based on their ability to serve people and places experiencing the greatest need.

Founded in 1980, SCPO manages visitation groups that support people in jail or prison. People who are justice-involved can receive transitional housing and support at Jennifer House or Nielsen House. Collectively, the houses serve up to 30 residents at a time. Over the past six years, the organization has added Permanent Supportive Housing for program participants who can live independently, expanding from 16 to 79 apartments.

Executive Director Jim Smith, who has served the organization since its founding, said the award will serve as a capstone on his life’s work of serving one of the most marginalized groups in society.

“This award honors the hundreds of people who support Spiritus Christi Prison Outreach as staff members, volunteers, and donors, and it is a testament to the importance of our work,” Smith said. “As I prepare to retire in a few years, I am grateful that Yield Giving has provided resources to ensure SCPO can continue serving this region’s community members who are homeless and justice-involved for a generation to come.”

Successful Re-entry Despite High Barriers

Submitted last year, SCPO’s application to Yield Giving notes that the Rochester area has an incarceration rate five times higher than New York City, at 1,051 per 100,000. Following incarceration, most people suffer from homelessness, substance use disorder and/or mental illness, making it very difficult to successfully re-enter the community or reunite with families. Without high-quality services, this too often leads to relapse and/or recidivation, and can be a matter of life or death.

Spiritus Christi Prison Outreach has a demonstrated track record of success in helping program participants overcome these barriers. In 2022, for example, SCPO reported:

● 98 percent success rate in preventing recidivism

● 93 percent of program participants remained in stable housing

● 90 percent maintained physical and mental or behavioral health treatment care plans

● 131 children gained improved relationships with their parents

One key to the program’s success is that a majority of direct care staff, including the Directors and House Managers at Nielsen House and Jennifer House, are graduates of SCPO programs or have lived experience, exemplifying the effectiveness of peer support.

“SCPO is honored to serve the justice-involved homeless population, and proud that so many are able to re-enter the community and reunite with family,” Smith said. “It’s especially gratifying to work with program graduates who become leaders and give back to our community as lived experienced experts.”

The award was announced at Nielsen House, which serves as the organization’s headquarters and community meeting space along with providing transitional housing for men. Located in the 19th Ward behind St. Monica’s Church, this large, beautiful mansion was the previous location of Sojourner House and a former convent before SCPO purchased the property in 2021.

Growth in Permanent Supportive Housing

SCPO manages 79 units of Permanent Supportive Housing in five Rochester communities developed by Home Leasing, LLC, in collaboration with SCPO: Apartments at Thurston Village, Charlotte Square on the Loop, Flower City Park, Frederick Douglass Apartments, and Voter’s Block. Each Permanent Supportive Housing community is staffed by an on-site SCPO case manager who helps program participants to live independently and achieve personal goals.

SCPO is also working with Rochester Housing Authority and Edgemere Development to build the Federal Street Townhouses in the 14609 zip code, a project scheduled to open in October that will add nine units of permanent supportive housing managed by the outreach.

DeShawn McLamore, a former SCPO Master of Social Work intern who now serves as Coordinator of Permanent Supportive Housing, said SCPO plans eventually to support 85 residents, when projects being developed with Home Leasing, Rochester Housing Authority, and New York State are completed. McLamore also provides case management support to SCPO residents of Flower City Apartments.

“Under Jim Smith’s leadership, Spiritus Christi Prison Outreach has become a powerful inspiration and support for people in our community who need it most,” McLamore said. “We are grateful to see our work honored with an award from Mackenzie Scott’s Yield Giving, which will enable us to complete our growth plan and sustain our services well into the future.”

SCPO is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that serves people of all backgrounds and faith traditions, supported by Spiritus Christi Church.

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