The Housing and Community Services Agency (HACSA) of Lane County partnered with Sponsors, Inc. to develop Roosevelt Crossing, a 72-bed transitional housing development specifically designed for returning ex-offenders. With Sponsors’, Inc. unique and successful model for returning ex-offenders to the community, the service program includes short- and long-term housing, food, clothing, transportation, healthcare and counseling.
Roosevelt Crossing is based on the beliefs that people can and do change, and that a strategic intervention at the appropriate moment can serve as a catalyst in that change. Nearly 70% of participants leave the Sponsors, Inc. program fully employed, in full compliance with release requirements, and with affordable and sustainable housing. Because of this success, HACSA received a national NAHRO (National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials) award of excellence in program innovation – affordable housing.
To fund the project, HACSA used Low Income Housing Tax Credits, federal program dollars, and state and local resources.
HACSA offers this advice to other PHAs, “Clients work closely with sponsoring case managers. Services include a reentry resources center (jobs program); a mentoring program; education program (support for students engaged in higher education); moral recognition therapy (MRT) classes; bus pass and bicycle availability. On site there is a fitness center, a basketball court, a garden, a library and warehouse (with donated goods for client use).”
Learn more about HACSA’s program, view documents they used to implement the program, and learn from other PHAs on CSH’s PHA Webpage and in our Toolkit.
