Hello I am looking to open a transitional home or halfway house for federal inmates that are from the central Virginia area. Currently there is a halfway house in either Newport News or Norfolk and all inmates from Va, that are released from federal custody must go to this overcrowded facility. But I don't want my business to run like the norm for halfway houses. I want programs and incentives that will reach the individual and the community that actually work to reduce the recidivism rate and allow these ex offenders a fair opportunity to reintegrate back to society with skills conducive to a new start.
Shawn, Sounds to me like you are more than halfway there. You say that you have two apartment buildings. That's the most difficult obstacle. The first thing you need to do is come up with something that no other transitional house offers. Don't reinvent the wheel; just enhance it. Partnerships are the way to go. Once you come up with your concept, develop your business plan around it. Is your transition house going to be non-profit? That's the way to go. What is going to be your target population? Male? Female? Violent Offenders? Sex Offenders? What is your area in the most need for? I can tell you in Alabama it housing for sex offenders (for obvious reasons) and females. Here is my email address kray243@hotmail.com. I would be more than happy to share my expertise and all the resources that I have with you. Good luck....Message Edited by NicoleD on 12-23-2009 09:13 AM
Kray,
Thanks so much to responding with such great info. I have one 4 unit bldg ready to go and i just purchased a 10 unit. The 10 unit needs work. I am trying to get gov. funding for renovation for that one. I am going to continue to spend much time researching then after the holidays i will start contacting agencies and getting the application process started. I would love to stay in contact with you. Are you already a transistional home owner?
A few friends and I are wanting to open an A/D halfway house/DV shelter. We have the building picked out and it belongs to the city (it was the old jail) It has 3 floors. Trying to decide on the profit or non-profit. The city official we talked to said the lease would be for a hundred dollars a year for fifty years he is putting it before the city council this way the building has been empty and an eyesore for 15 years. We are trying to get the Historical society to grant money for restoration. My question is can the founders, director and the staff and our family members make up the board of directors?
Congratulations on identifying a building that might be suitable for a transitional facility. Be careful about working through the historical society. If they get involved, generally they get to impose restrictions on use. From their perspective, the 'old jail' would make a better museum than it would a present day facility.
The lease terms with the city are ok though, frankly, if it's going to council, I would want a council award of funds to open the facility as a halfway house.
Definitely, you want to go the nonprofit route since that is the only way that the city will be allowed to do a sub-market rate lease.
The board of directors should consist of people who will not be members of the staff of the organization. It insures accountability and board control to have the board members separate from staff and, as well, it allows the board to exercise independent fiduciary responsibility.
One of the representations you make to the IRS for your tax exempt status is that none of the net revenue of the organization shall 'inure' to the benefit of the members of the board of directors.
Keep up the good work.
Jos A. Rivera, JD
President & CEO
Rivera, Sierra & Company, Inc.
jrivera@riverasierra.com
I would like to start in my home first. I have a 2 unit building now. I will also check with the village and see if I can get a permit.
Question: I would like to start in my home first. I have a 2 unit building now. I will also check with the village and see if I can get a permit.
It is very difficult to start a halfway house with two units in your own home. The first thing to do is to check the zoning regulations. You will probably need a special use permit. There are other alternatives that you should consider as well such as a boarding house for ex-offenders. You would then be free of some of the federal regulations.
Kray,Thanks so much to responding with such great info. I have one 4 unit bldg ready to go and i just purchased a 10 unit. The 10 unit needs work. I am trying to get gov. funding for renovation for that one. I am going to continue to spend much time researching then after the holidays i will start contacting agencies and getting the application process started. I would love to stay in contact with you. Are you already a transistional home owner?
No but the agency that I work for (AL Pardons and Parole) runs a transitional center and I am a supervisor so i have extensive knowledge of how to run them internally and the importance of building partnerships with other agencies. The easiest way to get government funding is to contact your local US congressman or state representative. Alot of people don't know this but they have funds set aside for their district for projects such as this. This is important in a couple of ways: It helps individuals in their respective districts or states and it gives them the publicity when election time comes. Let me know what direction you are trying to go as far as what target population you want to serve and I can give you alot more information. What state are you in?
Congratulations on identifying a building that might be suitable for a transitional facility. Be careful about working through the historical society. If they get involved, generally they get to impose restrictions on use. From their perspective, the 'old jail' would make a better museum than it would a present day facility. The lease terms with the city are ok though, frankly, if it's going to council, I would want a council award of funds to open the facility as a halfway house. Definitely, you want to go the nonprofit route since that is the only way that the city will be allowed to do a sub-market rate lease. The board of directors should consist of people who will not be members of the staff of the organization. It insures accountability and board control to have the board members separate from staff and, as well, it allows the board to exercise independent fiduciary responsibility. One of the representations you make to the IRS for your tax exempt status is that none of the net revenue of the organization shall 'inure' to the benefit of the members of the board of directors. Keep up the good work. Jos A. Rivera, JDPresident & CEORivera, Sierra & Company, Inc.jrivera@riverasierra.com
Can the board of directors be made up of the family of the staff of the facility?
I am trying to start a halfway house in Alabama or a surrounding state. Wherever its most needed.Please share what you have learned with me and I will do the same with you as I move along.I am a General Contractor and will build my own and will build yours for you if you wish. I already have the rough plans done with shower stalls, toilets, etc, andbunk bed area for 140 men and 40 women. Eating area that turns into a meeting room,a walking track, library, meeting rooms for classes, etc.
I have two houses on Memphis Tn. that needs some work done before I can turn into transitional houses. Do you know where I can get the supplies and labor donated? ---This post was edited to remove a commercial link. Read our discussion policies for more Community best practices.
No but the agency that I work for (AL Pardons and Parole) runs a transitional center and I am a supervisor so i have extensive knowledge of how to run them internally and the importance of building partnerships with other agencies. The easiest way to get government funding is to contact your local US congressman or state representative. Alot of people don't know this but they have funds set aside for their district for projects such as this. This is important in a couple of ways: It helps individuals in their respective districts or states and it gives them the publicity when election time comes. Let me know what direction you are trying to go as far as what target population you want to serve and I can give you alot more information. What state are you in?
I want to start one exclusively for women; 6 to 18 months participation at this point. I have alot of partnerships set up just don't have the facilities but have a couple of options in the works.My advice to you is to go the female route. I find that they are more focused and the success rate is extremely high. That is important when it comes to future funding possibilities. They tend to look at results. The next route is sex offenders. Note: Don't market it exclusively for sex offenders but that you are willing to accept them. Be extremely careful which sex offenders you are willing to accept though. if you do, make sure you take that are under electronic monitoring and intense supervision with their probation and parole officers. Just know that the majority of the sex offenders will comply with nearly all of the requirements just watch out for the child molestors and the violent offenders. If you screen them carefully, you should be fine.
Can the board of directors be made up of the family of the staff of the facility?
Dear Solstice:
Can the board of directors be made up of the family of the staff of the facility? The answer is yes. There are no State laws that prohibit relatives from being on the board. The only controlling documents are articles of incorporation and the bylaws of the corporation. If those documents do not prohibit family/relative participation, then it is legal.
Having said that, however, the question is whether the board of directors should be composed of family members related to staff. The answer to this question is a bit more complicated. Personally, if you are starting a transitional facility using assets that are personal in nature, it is not unreasonable to have a family member on the board to 'protect' those personal interests while fulfilling the fiduciary responsibility to the corporation itself. But, be clear, where there is a conflict between the personal investment of the founders/staff/etc. and the rights/privileges of the corporation and the people meant to be served by the corporation, the corporation must prevail.
A related problem associated with family board members is that a board member has a duty to be objective in its policy assessments and judgments. It's hard to do that when your aunt/cousin/brother/sister is on the board.
Short answer: YES.
Jos A. Rivera, JD
President & CEO
Rivera, Sierra & Company, Inc.
riverasierra | Window Shopper |
12/15/2010 - 10:05 am
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I have two houses on Memphis Tn. that needs some work done before I can turn into transitional houses. Do you know where I can get the supplies and labor donated? ---This post was edited to remove a commercial link. Read our discussion policies for more Community best practices.
Habitat for Humanity chapters have done some of this in the past. The local Laborers International Union has donated labor in the past. Home Depot and Lowe's donates supplies. Local prisons will donate labor in many states. Therapeutic communities (drug treatment) facilities will often donate labor as well.
Hi, I wanted to find out if you found out anything because I'm looking for the same information for MD as well. It'll be great if you can let me know if you found a really good credible source for this information and I'll do the same when I come across some info.
Thanks,
India
Loveislove | Window Shopper | 12/23/2009 - 6:01 pm
riverasierra | Window Shopper | 7/30/2010 - 3:01 pm
riverasierra | Window Shopper | 11/29/2010 - 10:36 pm
kray | Performer | 12/23/2009 - 7:16 pm
Solstice | Window Shopper | 8/2/2010 - 3:21 pm
lynordb | Performer | 12/11/2010 - 2:15 pm
kray | Performer | 12/25/2009 - 3:20 am
riverasierra | Window Shopper | 8/2/2010 - 5:31 pm
riverasierra | Window Shopper | 12/15/2010 - 10:05 am
Estes0109 | Performer | 12/27/2009 - 11:41 pm
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