At a ceremony held last week, the Osborne Association and the NYC Department of Social Services opened the Fulton Community Reentry Center, a state prison turned transitional housing facility for formerly incarcerated men.

The seven-story brick building, located at 1511 Fulton Avenue, will serve a population aged 50 and up. The reuse of the more than 110-year-old building was carried out in partnership with the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, with backing from the Empire State Development Corporation, Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, the New York City Council, The Bureau of Justice Assistance, and Trinity Church Wall Street.

“Today marks a significant milestone in our work to imagine a more supportive, inclusive, and effective reentry process for people returning to communities after incarceration, in some cases after decades of being away,” said Osborne president and chief executive officer Jonathan Monsalve. "Our long-held dream for this extraordinary center originates in our unwavering belief in the potential of every individual to contribute positively to society, coupled with the understanding that the path to successful reentry and reintegration is too often blocked by sanctioned and systemic barriers. With the opening of Fulton Community Reentry Center, we offer a beacon of hope and a foundation for progress – for residents, this community, and society more broadly."

Slated to open in May 2024, the Reentry Center will have space for up to 140 occupants. Per a news release, residents will also have access to employment readiness and independent living skills courses, assistance with enrollment in benefits, referrals for healthcare needs, support in finding permanent housing, and other recreational activities.

Built by the Bronx Episcopalian Church in 1907, the Reentry Center has also housed the Young Men's Hebrew Association, a nursing home, and eventually the Fulton Correctional Facility.