| |
| Hijrah
House and its Purpose |
|
| |
The
Hijrah House (a halfway house) is a place where recently
released inmates, who have no family or financial means
can have an interim stay during their transition back
into society’s mainstream. The purpose of a halfway
house is to help transform these individuals into useful
and contributing members of society so that they do
not end up back in jail. |
|
|
| |
| Q:
|
What
is the Hijrah House? |
| A: |
The Hijrah house
project was started in July 2003 by Muslim volunteers
living in Central Virginia. It is a halfway house
located in Richmond, Virginia where recently released
inmates, who have no family or financial means,
can have an interim stay during their transition
back into society’s mainstream. The Hijrah
House provides room & board to inmates just
released form prison. It helps them learn basic
skills such as responsibility, discipline, sharing,
home budgeting, and activities of daily living.
It provides an atmosphere where residents can
practice their faith as well as learn appropriate
life-coping skills. It links the ex-offenders
with resources for job training and resume-service.
At present we have only one house for male ex-offenders.
Our next project is to have a house for female
ex-offenders. |
| Q: |
How many
ex-offenders can stay at Hijrah House at one time? |
| A: |
According to the
City of Richmond zoning laws, only 5 residents
can stay at the Hijrah House at one time. Typically
a resident should be able to acclimate to the
outside world and get a job within two months.
If this holds true, the Hijrah House should be
able to help 30 ex-offenders per year. At present,
the Hijrah House Program is equipped and designed
to assist only male offenders who have committed
non-violent, non- sexual crimes, who are able
to maintain full time employment, and whose institutional
record and overall attitude show a strong desire
to make positive lifestyle changes. |
| Q: |
Who pays
all the expenses to run the Hijrah House? |
A: |
The Hijrah House
is run 100% from donations. Bulk of our money
comes from individuals like you. We also get contributions
and grants from charities and corporations. There
is a great need for more houses. However, funding
is the problem. Our next project is to have a
house for female ex-offenders. We will be opening
more houses as the funds become available. |
|
Q: |
Who manages
and runs this place? |
A: |
The Hijrah House
is managed by Muslim Chaplain Services of Virginia
(MCSVA). MCSVA is a faith-based 501 (C) 3 charity
organization comprised of Muslim volunteers. Besides
managing the Hijrah House, MCSVA volunteers also
manage the “Prison Outreach Program”,
which includes prison visits, distribution of
Islamic literature to Muslim inmates, and working
with Department of Corrections to resolve issues
facing the incarcerated Muslims in Virginia prisons
and jails. |
|
Q: |
What other
Muslims can do to help this cause? |
A: |
We need volunteers
to visit prisons, help write a newsletter and
answer inmate letters. You can also donate your
time or money. Please make the check payable to
Muslim Chaplain Services of Vieginia and mail
it to: MCSVA, P. O. Box 24241, Richmond, VA 23224-0241. |
|
|
| Services
Provided by a Transition House: |
| • |
Provide room
& board to inmates just released form prison.
|
• |
Help them become
financially independent to get back on their feet. |
• |
Teach basic
skills such as responsibility, discipline, and sharing.
They start out by learning cooking, cleaning, and washing
and then go on to learning home budgeting. |
• |
Provide
an atmosphere where residents can practice their faith
as well as learn appropriate life-coping skills.
|
• |
If needed,
link the resident to outside resources for job training,
resume service and job hunting assistance and maintain
a list of employers who hire ex-inmates for tax credit. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
