New SHIP wing opens at Albany County Jail
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple announced the opening of a new wing for the Sheriff’s Homeless Improvement Program (SHIP) on Friday. Originally opening in November 2020, the former jail housing unit was transitioned into apartments that house former inmates, homeless individuals, and now women and children. So far the program has served 497 homeless people.
This new wing will house women and children specifically. There are 18 single rooms with two to three room suites on the first floor and 20 single rooms on the second floor. The wing will officially open on Friday at 10:30 a.m. It is located at 800 Old Albany Shaker Road in Albany. Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple, said that despite being a decommissioned jailhouse, having a place to stay, proper resources, and financial support is better than being without a home.
"This is a place that the homeless can come to; they can rest," Sheriff Apple said, "But I want you to show progress. I want you to make your life better. I want you to get whatever services you need; maybe it’s just counseling, maybe it’s employment, maybe it’s just a job, and you’re not really homeless, and you’re just down on your luck. Come here.”
24-year-old Dyja Thomas has lived in the first wing of the unit for three months. Before moving in she said she was unable to get a job. But after being in the program, she has found a job, started a savings account, and built up her credit.
“I was completely lost," Thomas said. "I lost my ID, I lost my Social Security card, and my birth certificate. I had nothing. I couldn’t even get a job if I wanted to.”
Sheriff Apple said that there is a full staff, meals, a common area, laundry, and office space in the building. There are also counseling, financial, and employment resources that help residents get back on their feet.
“66% of inmates that get out have nowhere to go," Sheriff Apple said. "If you get out of jail and you have nowhere to go, you’re more likely to regress and go back into jail.”
The expansion of the program and addition of the second wing were made possible due to federal funding secured by Congressman Paul Tonko. Nearly $500,000 was given to the program in order to cover the renovation costs.
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