By Marney Simon | Bugle Staff
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet is extending a helping hand to women who have served time, and are now looking to rebuild their lives.
In October, the Joliet City Council approved a special use permit to renovate an old convent into living space for formerly incarcerated women aged 35 and older.
The move has given Catholic Charities the green light to renovate vacant space at Holy Hills Deliverance Church, formerly St. Thaddeus, at 510 Columbia St. in Joliet. Catholic Charities plans to lease the 4,000 square foot former convent area as well as part of the parking lot across the street.
A portion of Holy Hills Deliverance Church, formerly St. Thaddeus, at 510 Columbia St. will be converted to special housing for women exiting incarceration and re-entering society. Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet, will run the program in the old convent portion of the site, which will include housing and services for formerly incarcerated women at risk of homelessness. (Photo by Marney Simon)
The re-entry program will house up to eight women who have recently been released from prison. The program will allow the women to live on site for up to 18 months.
“Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet is very excited to develop a re-entry program for up to eight women who were formerly incarcerated and are returning to our communities,” Pam Terrell, Community Services Division Director for Catholic Charities, told the members of the City Council. “Very key to their recovery is a house. We want to make sure that they have stable housing in order to get the supportive services that they need to rebuild their lives and avoid return to a life of crime. The nearest facility for this type of a project for women coming back to our community is in Chicago. We believe that a facility here in the local community with the supports that they need would be advantageous and help them to succeed.”
The small re-entry program will be available for women who are exiting incarceration and are homeless, or are at risk of being homelessness. The goal of the program is for residents to attain self-sufficiency and a productive lifestyle.
The program will engage the community and social service partners, with a comprehensive array of services for its residents. Among those services will be safe, stable housing, adult education and GED services, substance abuse and mental health services, professional counseling, employment support, training, advocacy, job search assistance, spiritual and religious services, volunteer mentors, legal aid, coordination with parole agents, life skills training, and professional case management.
The program will be staffed with one full time staff member who will live on site, as well as a part-time live-in staff, a case manager, and volunteers.
Catholic Charities conducted outreach to the surrounding area and community about the proposed plans, which included two community forums.
The women are subject to restrictions. In addition to being aged 35 and older, those with certain types of convictions, such as arson, will not be admitted.
The women will be required to hold down regular employment, and will be subject to curfew rules.
Catholic Charities said the site will improve the community by providing a needed resource for women leaving correctional facilities. The project will also include renovation and utilization of the currently vacant portion of the building.