Fighting for an alternative to life on Rikers Island
The cost to house a woman on Rikers Island is upwards of half a million dollars per year. But the human cost is higher.
In the fall, we told you about Luz, who nearly gave birth on Rikers Island as she fought for compassionate release. Her charges were later dropped.
In March, HousingPlus CEO Karen Ford joined allies, impacted families, and Rikers survivors at New York’s City Hall to speak on the need to fund programs like Justice Works, which provides an alternative to costly incarceration and a path away from Rikers.
Staff gathered alongside Karen on March 24, 2026 in front of City Hall. Joined by organizations like Freedom Agenda and the Women’s Community Justice Association, HousingPlus stood up to advocate for the closure of Rikers Island. In so doing, we are, with Karen’s leadership, carrying forward the commitment of Rita Zimmer who has campaigned for closing the Rose M. Singer women’s facility on the Island for many years.
Alternatives to incarceration are one way to reduce the number of individuals who have to live in the unsafe environment of that jail complex. At the rally at City Hall, Karen forcefully reminded us that, “We all know what works: treatment, housing, services, and care,” said Karen, “Last year, over half of the women in our program for formerly incarcerated individuals transitioned into permanent housing.”
Alternatives to incarceration have been proven to work. They are not just lowering costs, they encourage individuals to safely reenter their communities with resources and support.
Take the example of another tenant who found her way home with the help of HousingPlus’ Justice Works program. Christie joined the Justice Works program in February 2025. She resided at Providence House, a member of the Justice Works consortium, during her transitional housing period.
She recently reached a major milestone by securing permanent housing at HousingPlus. She has now moved into one of our buildings in East New York.
In 2024, Christie was facing uncertainty following a plea deal. One of her goals was to find permanent housing before she gave birth in February. Through incredible resilience, grit, and ambition, she secured her new home ahead of her goal.
Today, Christie has the stability and peace of mind needed to focus on her health and her growing family. She has built a strong foundation for her future.
Christie’s new home is possible because of donations from individuals like you: From the welcome mat outside her apartment door to the supportive staff working with her on her goals, all aspects of our program are made possible with financial support.