Tag: nonprofit organizations

Housing Gets a Helping HAND

Before COVID-19, people in Central Indiana spent a lot of time talking about their commutes to and from work. We all know someone who regularly drives from the suburbs into Indianapolis, and then back to enjoy family life in one of Indy’s “doughnut” counties.

Let’s talk about the reverse of that scenario though: What about the Hoosiers who work in the suburbs and travel from Indianapolis to reach their jobs each day? They’re the people whom we rely on to cook and serve our food, stock our favorite stores, and teach in our schools. These workers—employed by some of the lowest-paying industries—face a major problem: Indy’s surrounding counties don’t have enough safe and affordable housing, so that people can afford to live where they work.

Andrea Davis
Andrea Davis, Executive Director

That’s not okay, in the words of Andrea Davis, Executive Director of HAND Incorporated. Founded in 2003 as Hamilton County Area Neighborhood Development Inc., HAND addresses the housing needs of low and moderate-income individuals, families and senior citizens in Indy’s northern suburbs.  

Statistics show that there’s a genuine need for more affordable housing options. According to United Way of Central Indiana’s ALICE project*, 17% of Hamilton County households earn more than the federal poverty level, but less than the basic cost of living. Considering Hamilton County’s population, 17% equates to 21,000 households where families struggle to pay for their basic needs. Without affordable housing options, these families are often forced to live outside their preferred communities.

“Where we live impacts every aspect of our lives,” said Davis. “Our homes are the foundation for our health, education, safety, and economic well-being. At HAND, we believe everyone should have the chance to live in their community of choice, regardless of age, income or occupation.”

HAND Incorporated

That’s a tall order in some of Indiana’s most affluent communities, where established residents have expressed concerns about the addition of lower-cost housing options. Misperceptions feed this opposition: Neighbors often assume that “affordable housing” equates to poorly constructed or aesthetically lacking developments, harkening back to ill-fated public housing projects from the middle of last century.

HAND is working to abate these concerns and promote awareness of their properties, which are thoughtfully designed to compliment existing neighborhoods. HAND currently owns seven affordable rental communities in Hamilton County and one in Boone County, with a ninth development proposed in Tipton. Each HAND-developed project is constructed with durable, high-quality materials, including stone, brick and fiber cement board. Additionally, HAND uses energy-efficient materials and appliances to keep living expenses low for residents.

To raise money for their work and promote awareness, HAND hosts a number of fun and informative events. Its annual Suburban Housing Conference is an opportunity for advocates and local partners to hear from elected officials and partnering organizations as they discuss advancements in affordable housing. In November, HAND will host its innovative “Stay Home for HAND” fundraiser, where participants support the cause financially without the obligation to attend a black-tie event. And earlier this year, the agency hosted its popular “Trivia Night” fundraiser, where supporters enjoy a fun-filled evening of food and trivia contests.

Here’s how you can help:

  • Donate to HAND to fund their ongoing work to promote and deliver affordable housing options.
  • Volunteer to help the cause by serving on committees or the Board of Directors. Volunteers’ time and expertise is essential to the success of HAND’s small staff.
  • Advocate for HAND and for affordable housing options in your community. Tell your elected officials that it’s important to you that people who work in your community are also able to live in it.

*Study Reveals 38% of Hoosier Working Families Struggle to Afford the Basics
https://uwci.org/study-reveals-39-of-hoosier-working-families-struggle-to-afford-the-basics/

Turning Bad Decisions Into Better Outcomes

What happens when a young mother commits a nonviolent crime in Indiana? Oftentimes, she is sentenced to serve time in a women’s prison, leaving her children to the care of others. For the duration of her sentence, the mother-child bond is broken, and the responsibilities of parenting are paused. But sometimes, if she’s eligible, a judge can sentence a nonviolent female offender to an average of 6-18 months at Craine House…with her young children.

Craine House sign

Founded in 1978, Craine House is an innovative work-release and reentry facility located on North Michigan Road in Indianapolis. Serving only nonviolent female offenders, the nonprofit organization offers programs to match individuals’ rehabilitation needs while working to address generational cycles of abuse, poverty and crime. Women come to Craine House when they’re nearing the end of a sentence with the Department of Corrections, or they’re assigned to Craine House in lieu of prison.

A unique aspect of Craine House is that residents can serve their time in a home-like setting with their young children. It is one of only six facilities in the U.S. and the only one in the Midwest where women can continue to parent their children while serving their sentences. The agency can house up to 40 women and their children under the age of five.

This innovative combination of promoting self-sufficiency and strengthening the mother-child bond is having positive results. Craine House has a recidivism rate of only 20%, compared to the national recidivism rate of more than 60%.*

Craine House residents complete onsite educational and job-readiness programs, including financial classes, high school equivalency courses and a certified culinary training curriculum. Women are expected to find outside employment within two weeks of arrival, and each resident uses her earnings to contribute to the cost of her stay at Craine House. 

  • Suzy Pierce, Craine House Executive Director
  • Alicia Cooley, President, Modern Day Therapy

Executive Director Suzy Pierce has led the staff and residents for more than 17 years. “The women at Craine House have made some bad decisions in their past, but they are not bad people.” Many women suffer lasting effects of trauma and often have family members who have experienced the criminal justice system.

One of the most important programs at Craine House, and a key differentiator from other work-release facilities, is the onsite counseling provided by Modern Day Therapy. Through these programs, residents receive individual and group counseling to address past trauma and ongoing emotional issues that can impede successful reentry into the community.

“Many things occur in the lives of women that bring them into the prison system,” said Alicia Cooley, MSW, LSW, and President of Modern Day Therapy. “Modern Day Therapy’s partnership with Craine House allows us to create tailored client-centered services to treat critical issues. And because we’re working in the same place where the women reside, we’re able to see their progress in real time.”

Levi at Craine House

In addition to staff-led programs, residents enjoy the companionship of Levi, a trained service dog from ICAN (Indiana Canine Assistant Network) adopted by Craine House in 2019. While Levi is specially trained to recognize and respond to the signs of emotional distress, he’s also a willing playmate and happy distraction for residents.

In most circumstances, our community is better served—economically and socially—when eligible convicted women complete comprehensive reentry programs. Kelly M. Shaw of the Marion County Public Defender Agency said this in a 2019 blog post for the Indianapolis Bar Association. “Overall, Craine House is a great example of what attorneys and judges hope for in a sentence—a balance between punishment and rehabilitation that allows women who complete their sentence to become better members of our community.” *

Here’s how you can help:

  • Donate to support the programs and services of Craine House here.
  • Purchase and donate supplies from the Craine House Wish List. In addition to items on this list, the center is also in need of baby supplies.

* Why Craine House Should Always Be Considered For Sentencing https://www.indybar.org/?pg=CriminalJusticeNews&blAction=showEntry&blogEntry=7914