Rebuilding Together to Renovate Women’s Prison Association Residence

NEW YORK, October 1, 2016 – Rebuilding Together, a leading national nonprofit in safe and healthy housing that provides low-income homeowners with critical home repairs and revitalizes communities, will join together with its affiliate, Rebuilding Together New York City on October 1, 2016, to renovate the Sarah Powell Huntington House, a homeless shelter for formerly incarcerated women and their children managed by the Women's Prison Association.

Rebuilding Together will bring together volunteers to provide critical repairs and renovations to the Sarah Powell Huntington House, and provide home repair skills training for its residents. Repairs will include mold abatement, upgrades to the child care floor, repainting of rooms and hallways, upgrades to the shared outdoors space and more.

"We aim to provide the best possible living conditions as we partner with families during this juncture in their lives," said Georgia Lerner, Executive Director of the Women’s Prison Association. "The work performed by Rebuilding Together and its New York City affiliate will help us ensure that women and families in our residence can reunite in a safe environment and focus on rebuilding their lives."

Since 1993, the Sarah Powell Huntington House has given  families the chance to access services designed to promote long-term health, stability, and self-sufficiency.  Women's Prison Association staff work with families to achieve goals such as securing safe and stable housing, enrolling in school, seeking employment, finding a healthcare provider, and managing the full range of day-to-day household and family challenges.  Children get homework help and recreational activities through the Women's Prison Association’s youth services.

“The Sarah Powell Huntington House provides women with the necessary services to reintegrate into their communities,” said Caroline Blakely, President and CEO of Rebuilding Together. "The work performed by our volunteers during the She Builds event will build on that foundation by giving these women a healthier space to prepare to return to their own homes and basic skills to improve and repair their homes."

According to the National Women’s Law Center, more than one in seven women and more than one in five children live in poverty.  More than half of all low-income children live in families headed by women. Two-thirds of low-wage workers are women working for just $10.50 or less, most without a spouse’s income to rely on to support their family.

She Builds is a nationwide event series, created by Rebuilding Together, featuring community revitalization projects that create real change for women - providing critical home repairs and community restoration to women in need, while giving women the confidence and skills to maintain a safe and healthy home. She Builds is held in collaboration with Rebuilding Together affiliates in local cities; as well as corporate and community partners. The first She Builds event was held last June in Nashville, Tenn. and benefited Thistle Farms, a sanctuary for women who survived of abuse, addiction, trafficking and prostitution. The next She Builds event will be held on October 22, 2016 in Seattle, Wash.

The event in New York City is made possible through the support of the event’s national and local partners, including Charter Communications - through its Charter our Community initiative, the Meredith Corporation, Gilbane Building Company, and HGTV.