In May 2012, Brownstoner posted about 104 Gold Street building being reopened as a shelter.
Last month, NY Times published an article about Community First Services, the non-profit organization that was awarded a $29 million contract to run halfway houses in Brooklyn. They say that they had consulted closely with leading community organizations about setting up the federal halfway house in Brooklyn. One of these halfway houses is in Vinegar Hill at 104 Gold Street (pictured above).
Per the NY Times article:
In September, Community First moved the 161-bed halfway house to a new location, on Gold Street in the Dumbo section of Brooklyn. Several prominent neighborhood groups first learned about it a month later, when called by The Times.
“Didn’t know a thing about it,” said Robert Perris, the district manager of Community Board 2. “I love it when I find out about stealth social service agencies from the media.”
The lengthy federal contract requires Community First to take numerous steps to help inmates find jobs. They are to be assisted with “portfolio development, résumé writing, proper dress and interview techniques training.” The halfway house must provide “individual and group counseling, case management and post-release follow-up.”
But current and former inmates said that in reality, the halfway house provided little more than three meals and a bed.
“They don’t set you up with any interviews,” a current inmate said. “They put a poster on the wall. They just send you to a job fair. They don’t give you any tools.”
