New Alternative to Incarceration Program for the Mentally Ill Breaks Ground in the Bronx

A residence for people with mental illness who would otherwise be incarcerated for felonies is finally on its way to The Bronx, Jonathan Custodio reports for The City. Following ten years of advocacy, Hope House, sponsored by the Greenburger Center for Social and Criminal Justice, is officially breaking ground on a location that promises to house 16 people at a time who have conditions such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

Construction of the $13 million facility is expected to be completed sometime in 2025. The six-year pilot program will house people with serious mental illness who have been charged with felony crimes on Crotona Park North. Residents, who will stay for up to two years, will have access to therapeutic services, psychiatric counseling and skills training, like cooking. They will also be able to enjoy recreational activities and to meet with family. People  placed in homes there in lieu of a jail or prison sentence would be required to remain on site until they are stabilized, which would generally be at least six months.