1979
““We never once thought this was going to be done by one person. It was going to be done by all of us.”
”
In 1979, the Sisters of St. Joseph offered a young mother returning from Bedford Hills Correctional Facility a place to stay at the Parish of Holy Cross in Flatbush. While there, she reunited with her child and received support after her time spent incarcerated. This woman was the first resident of what would become Providence House.
Sister Elaine Roulet, one of the original four sisters to open the Parish’s doors, continued to help women at Bedford Hills and realized there was a great need to aid women returning to Brooklyn. She built a community that emphasized non-violence, and rehabilitation. With these guiding principles, The Holy Cross site was transformed into a housing facility for more women returning from Bedford. This marked the first physical location of Providence House.
1983-1984
After seeing the impact of its approach, Providence House was eager to expand its scope of aiding women returning from correctional facilities. The second Providence House location, a restored brownstone on Bainbridge Street in Brooklyn, opened its doors in 1982. At this site, services expanded to not only to women returning from Bedford Hills, but also to those experiencing homelessness in the greater New York City area.
A third location in Jamaica, Queens opened soon after in 1983 with the same Providence House mission in mind; engaging women who were experiencing homelessness and helping them find a more permanent home. The former convent acted as a transitional residence for fifteen mothers with young children.
1984
Providence House grew quickly with the goal of helping as many women as possible. The fourth location opened in 1984 in New Rochelle, the first and only location outside of the New York City area. A restored Victorian home became a large communal residence for ten women with young children. Many of these women were young mothers who had aged out of the foster care system.
One such resident was Dorothy, who gave birth while residing at Providence House. She built a strong relationship with Sister Sandy Wardell who helped her prepare for her labor. The birth was complicated, but Sr. Sandy calmed and reassured Dorothy throughout the experience. When the baby was born, Dorothy asked that Sr. Sandy be the child’s godmother. This touching gesture exemplified how Providence House fostereds deep bonds with its residents, creating a genuine sense of family and community.
“When I arrived here, I saw some of the other women and their babies and I could see how they fed them, changed them, talked to them and thats how I learned
— Former New Rochelle Resident
In 1987, Providence House opened a new site dedicated as a residence for women, transitioning back into the community after incarceration who were on parole. The residence on Lincoln Road in Brooklyn, originally a convent, was transformed into a home with a capacity of fifteen. This laid the groundwork for what would become the Women’s Justice Program nearly three decades later.
The Lincoln Road location acted as the meeting place for Tonya Davis and Helen Royal, two women who shared a room in the home and lifted one another up. They worked for the Neighborhood Work Project, where they advanced their careers and learned not only to care for themselves, but for others. Reflecting on her experience at Lincoln Road, Tonya expressed, “I don’t turn my back on people. I don't forget where I’ve been, and I never want to let the women who helped me at Providence House down.”
1987
1990
As its impact continued to progress, Providence House received recognition on a national scale. In 1990, then President George H.W. Bush presented Sr. Elaine with the President’s Volunteer Action Award, acknowledging her work in rehabilitating previously incarcerated women and her ideologies of non-violence and community. Out of 2,800 nominees, Providence House was one of 19 organizations selected for the prestigious honor.
As noted in the Providence House Newsletter from the Summer of 1990, “To Our Volunteers: This belongs to you!” Our volunteer staff were recognized at the ceremony as well, as both the President and Sr. Mary Ross noted that our work would be impossible without their help: “Financially it would be impossible to do what we’re doing without the voluntary support.”
"Often I have asked myself the question, "When will I finally settle after a lifetime of moving from place to place?" Providence House is for me an opportunity to begin setting into this new life for me and my daughter."
- Kim, Former Providence House Resident
Providence House growth continued in 1993 when its Administrative Office was opened. This created a space to support the infrastructure for the organization's continued evolution. Though the organization was in no position to buy property at the time, Providence House received a deed from Mr. Gilbert Katz, whose colleagues planned on donating the building to a non-profit group. Catherine Cuasay, Resident Volunteer and Case Manager, wrote that the location was a “dream come true” and “a place to incubate and hatch more of our dreams for Providence House.” Though some issues needed solving before moving in, such as a new heating system and re-roofing, the plans for the building included twelve to fifteen hours a day of service and a daycare for children while mothers attended classes.
1993
1995
1996
In 1996, Providence House opened its sixth location. Named the “House of Providence,” the Coney Island building originally served as a weekend retreat, but converted into a community residential step-up program for women who lived at other Providence House sites. The program provided women an opportunity to enhance their earning power and save enough money to secure permanent housing. This led to the Providence House’s Employment Program, which provided a counselor to increase capacity for finding meaningful and sustaining work. Many women worked while living in this location to earn their GEDs and further their education.
2001
Responding to the needs of the Community, Providence House opened its seventh location in 2001. Located in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, the site represented its first apartment-style residence, and housed seventeen single mothers experiencing homelessness. Here, the mothers could find solace in having a home for themselves and their children, as Providence House created a safe and caring environment conducive for raising a family.
This Brooklyn location created a foothold in the Bed-Stuy community that has endured to this day. In 2023, more than twenty years after its origin, the site was renovated to house an expansion of the Women's Justice Program.
“This was actually a very good experience. I have a place for my kids and we don’t have negativity around us. I think I actually got to find myself here.”
- Kelly, Former Family Transitional Shelter Resident
2002
In 2002, staff and organizers decided on hosting a celebration of the success that Providence House had seen over the past 20 years. At a cocktail reception, the organization honored Hope Award Recipients Catherine and Patrick de Saint-Aignan and Janet and Jim D’Addario, as well as Humanitarian Award Recipient The Most Rev. Joseph M. Sullivan. A Special Memorial Award was also presented for Joseph A. Mulholland. The celebration was a great success and marks the first of the annual People of Hope celebrations.
2011
In June of 2011, Providence House reached a historic milestone with the groundbreaking of a 46 unit permanent supportive housing program in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Named the D’Addario Residence, the home held 17 units reserved for people living under the poverty line, and 28 units for women and families impacted by mental health challenges. The development also housed large community spaces, such as a meeting room, gym, and learning center. This was the organization’s first permanent supportive housing program in which residents could stay indefinitely. The program featured on-site case management as well as referrals to services and programs, such as health and mental health, employment and training, and childcare.
2019
Providence House continued to grow and evolve with the opening of the Royce Mulholland Residence, a restored brownstone in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. A permanent supportive housing residence for 11 single adults experiencing chronic homelessness, the location represents the mission at the heart of Providence House to aid New Yorkers in need and provide spaces for community and growth.
“Every day is a better day for me here”
Liz, East New York Family Transitional Shelter Resident
2020
While New York City persevered through the COVID pandemic, Providence House did the same and opened another new location in East New York called the Glenmore Residence. One of the largest facilities yet, Glenmore provided 59 units of housing for families experiencing homelessness, some of these families having four or more members. Community and office spaces are also pillars of this location; here, residents, staff, and volunteers are able to come together in various activities such as crafting time for kids and adult yoga classes.
2023
Most recently in 2023, Providence House has continued to see expansion with the increased capacity of our Women’s Justice Program. Thanks to the success of the program previously, the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice in New York granted a three year contract to add 25 beds to the program. Officially breaking ground on May 3, two adjacent brownstones have been transformed into more housing for women and gender expansive people returning from Rikers Island.
Providence House staff and volunteers worked tirelessly over some months to transform the location to a place where Providence House could call another home; the backyard transformed into a beautiful garden, furniture assembly completed, and the individual units prepared for residents. As we continue to build more homes and expand the Women’s Justice Program, we further our mission of keeping the people who enter our doors from returning to the criminal justice system and successfully reintegrating to the community.