The Drew House is a family alternative to incarceration program designed to provide an alternative for female defendants who would otherwise be incarcerated and separated from their children.  The Drew House offers an opportunity for these women to serve their sentences in their own apartment at Drew House with their children while fulfilling the Court’s mandates which are monitored by TASC.

            Generally, a prospective candidate must be homeless and have a disability of substance abuse or mental illness; not currently be using drugs; be charged with a felony offense, and have custody of dependant children.  The program offers a wide array of services aimed to avoid fragmenting the family which frequently occurs when a mother is incarcerated.  Families receive services to reduce trauma experienced by the children who are separated from their mothers, and to help the women achieve stability and economic security including permanent housing. 

            The following is a general list of Court ordered requirements that woman referred to Drew House must meet.  First, the participant may need to receive treatment services which would include drug testing, as well as completing an educational or employment training program.  Counseling, employment services, budgeting, mentoring and referrals to other needed health, employment and social services are offered.

            A House Manager lives on site, and a Tenant Services Coordinator and Employment Specialist work with each woman, as does a family therapist.  Tenants use community day care, health services and other vocational and educational programs to meet their individual needs.

            The family lives in a one or two bedroom apartment and agrees to comply with Court mandates and Drew House rules.  Following the successful completion of their mandated alternative to incarceration program which generally last 18 months, the felony charges are dismissed.  Moreover, the woman and her family can stay for as long as they need their apartments, thereby avoiding the possibility of the family again becoming homeless.