Fortune Society

Our housing programs empower homeless, formerly incarcerated individuals and their families The opportunity to build better futures through stable and affordable housing. By providing low-threshold access to supportive emergency and transitional housing at The Fortune academy ("The castle"), supportive permanent housing at castle gardens and through our scatter-site housing program, we meet both The immediate and long-term needs of our clients. Participating clients are able to take The first steps on their journey towards becoming positive, self-sufficient members of Society with The full support of Fortune's reentry services. In fy2023, we served 216 scattered-site clients, 94 clients at The Fortune academy, and 64 active supportive housing clients at castle gardens. Most clients leaving our transitional housing went on to successful permanent housing in The community while continuing to engage in The array of support services offered.

Fortune has offered mental health services since july 2011 through The better living center (blc), our nys office of mental health (omh)-licensed article 31 outpatient mental health treatment clinic. The blc works to facilitate a seamless transition for individuals with mental health issues who also have histories of incarceration by providing The supportive environment, treatment, and therapy they need to manage their mental illness, while also making progress towards achieving their other life goals. In fy2023, we served 193 clients through The blc's mental health services. Our nys office of addiction services and supports (oasas)-licensed outpatient substance abuse treatment services program empowers clients to address and overcome substance use issues. Our outpatient treatment program supports clients' efforts to achieve recovery from The life-long chronic illness of substance use and as part of their larger transition to a pro-social, self-directed life in our communities. We provide client-centered treatment that is geared towards The overall improvement of each client's mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Every client begins his or her journey with a full assessment and program orientation, followed by intensive individual and group counseling. We also offer lifetime aftercare, so our clients know they can rely on us to help them navigate future challenges. In fy2023, we served 480 clients in our substance abuse treatment program. 38% of The clients discontinued substance use upon discharge from Fortune's substance abuse program.

Our ati programs reduce The prison and jail populations, save taxpayers millions of dollars, and each year help hundreds of men and women learn how to lead crime-free, productive lives. Clients participating in our ati programs are still under criminal justice supervision while in The community, but they also receive The life-stabilizing services they desperately need. Those who complete their program successfully receive sentences that require no further incarceration, including probation and community service. In fy2023, we served 323 participants in our ati programs and successfully graduated 83% of clients eligible for completion.

Discharge planning / preparing for release: The individualized corrections achievement network (i-can) program provides skills-building and discharge preparation services to eligible men and women during their incarceration on rikers island, continuing reentry support following their release. We help them prepare for release by applying for identification documents, providing parenting classes, group counseling, professional development, job training, education, and relapse prevention workshops. I-can provides ongoing support to individuals as they transition back into The community in all areas key to successful reentry. Benefit access: The benefit access program is an integral part of Fortune's admissions and intake process. We help clients find out if they are eligible to receive public benefits from any of The government programs available to low-income individuals. We then work with clients to navigate The application process so they can secure critical benefits such as snap (food stamps) and medicaid and stabilize themselves financially. In addition, The program connects clients with expert advice to help with a wide range of issues, such as child support, evictions, accessing and correcting rap sheets, legal services, financial services, credit assistance, and much more. In fy2023, we screened 3,076 individuals in our benefit access program, assisting them in obtaining cash and non-cash public benefits. Notable accomplishments in fy2023 included 363 snap benefit recipients, 207 medicaid recipients, 223 financial assistance recipients, and 69 legal counseling sessions.education: our education program empowers clients to achieve personal and professional goals and make progress toward The high school equivalency (hse) diploma, attending college, and preparing for today's job market. Clients have The opportunity to develop essential reading, writing, math and computer skills with The support of Fortune's dedicated teachers, counselors, and volunteer tutors. Our small class size allows each individual to progress at his or her own pace in an environment where all students feel respected and have a say in what they are learning. During fy2023, we served a total of 275 students in our education programs.employment services: our employment services program is designed to equip formerly incarcerated job seekers, many of whom are entering The job market for The first time in many years, with The skills necessary to obtain employment and thrive in The workplace. We offer a variety of services to help job seekers begin their careers and seek professional advancement. Our intensive 3-week workshop teaches clients how to network, excel in job interviews, problem-solve, answer difficult conviction questions, and create a professional resume and cover letter. Individuals completing The workshop receive career counseling, job placement assistance, and support with job retention. Fortune also offers skills training which provides industry-recognized certifications, including commercial driving, green jobs training and culinary arts training and a best practice training that trains clients to become job developers. Clients who complete The training receive job placement and career advancement services targeted to their desired career field. In fy2023, 2,057 individuals received employment-related services; of those, 884 individuals enrolled in and 726 completed our job readiness workshop. We were able to place 684 individuals in permanent and subsidized jobs within The fiscal year. The average starting salary for all jobs within The fiscal year was $18.22/hour. Family services: our family services program helps connect clients with their loved ones by supporting personal growth and The development of essential life skills. We offer an array of group and individual services to meet The unique needs of formerly incarcerated mothers, fathers, and expectant parents. Our men and women are given The opportunity to learn vital interpersonal and parenting skills, develop The tools needed to escape a life defined by crime and/or substance abuse, and become positive role models for their children. Clients also receive assistance with child support cases and family reunification issues. In fy2023, we enrolled 119 new individuals in our family services program. We increased material and financial support to children for 72 clients, and 47 clients completed our parent skills curriculum.health services: our health services team offers clients rapid hiv testing, prevention education, case management and connection to quality, community-based treatment and care for individuals living with or at-risk for hiv/aids. This holistic and integrated approach to serving formerly incarcerated men and women living with hiv/aids, or at risk of developing hiv/aids, helps ensure their safe and healthy transition back into The community. In fy2023, we served 436 individuals in our drop-in center program which helps people living with hiv/aids on rikers island, manhattan detention complex, brooklyn detention complex and vernon c. bain center transition back into The community with on-site individual and group counseling and referral services. We also enrolled 122 clients in our community-based health services program, they received case management, individual counseling, group services and medication support. Food and nutrition: in fy2023, we provided 39,541 nutritious meals to our clients. In addition to food, The meal program provides an opportunity to strengthen The bonds of community that we have built at Fortune. We also distributed 104,369 pounds of ny state grown fresh produce to low-income new yorkers and conducted 249 cooking demonstrations to promote healthy eating.public policy: with over 50 years' experience, Fortune is now one of The nation's leading innovators in advocacy and public policy. In fy2023, we continued The long tradition of advocating for people who have been impacted by The criminal justice system. Through policy development, advocacy, technical assistance, training and community education, The david rothenberg center for public policy program works to build an equitable and conscionable justice system, change counterproductive laws and policies, and promote effective program models for people with criminal justice histories.