The Lilac House Offers Formerly Incarcerated Women a Place to Land — and Grow — After Prison
When people leave prison in the United States, they return to communities with an immediate list of things they are expected to put back together.
Finding somewhere to live is often among the most urgent, alongside obtaining identification, securing transportation, meeting parole or other supervision requirements, reconnecting with family and navigating health care, benefits and other public systems.
For those returning without family support or enough money to secure an apartment, housing can quickly become the condition around which every other part of that process is organized.
A national analysis by the Prison Policy Initiative found that formerly incarcerated people experience homelessness at nearly 10 times the rate of the general population, with the risk particularly high in the first years after release. Women were more likely to experience homelessness than formerly incarcerated men.
Women can also face their own set of pressures during reentry, including family reunification and caregiving responsibilities.
And for those who need stable housing but do not require intensive treatment or meet the eligibility requirements of more specialized residential programs, the options can become limited.
Pamela Zimba understands that gap from both sides. Formerly incarcerated herself, Zimba founded The Lilac House in 2021 to provide transitional housing and reentry support for women returning to communities in and around Westchester County, New York.
"This is one of the wealthiest counties in the state, houses three state correctional facilities and boasts an insufficient reentry network," Zimba told Hyvemind in a recent interview.
In Westchester, she said, shelters often become the remaining option for women without family support who do not qualify for transitional programs serving people with chronic health or mental health conditions, substance-use disorders or histories of domestic violence.
Zimba told Hyvemind she founded The Lilac House for women who needed more support than a shelter could provide, but did not qualify for more specialized residential programs.
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Submit Your OrganizationAt the center of the Mount Vernon nonprofit is Safe Refuge, a shared transitional home where up to seven formerly incarcerated women can live for as long as two years while working toward permanent housing.
Rather than treating independence as a fixed benchmark, the organization works with residents based on what they need to move forward, while expecting them to participate in the shared responsibilities of the house.
"Having experience with the justice system, we understand the intricacies of returning to the community and navigating the re-entry process," Zimba revealed. "In light of this, we take a personalized approach to re-entry support. We believe individualized goals and personal accountability are crucial to our participants' success."
Residents receive individualized case management alongside help finding work, clothing, transportation assistance, life-skills workshops and connections to outside services based on what each woman needs.
“A participant may come to us after years of incarceration and need to learn basic computer operating skills or how to use a smartphone,” Zimba said. “Another might need a legal referral or parenting classes for family reunification. Yet another may desire to pursue higher education or need a new environment for a new beginning.”
The Lilac House has also expanded some of its work beyond the residence through life-skills workshops, furniture assistance, food outreach and other community support, though Zimba says housing remains one of the most overlooked needs facing formerly incarcerated women in the region.
That work also means confronting some of the assumptions that can shape how much support people are willing to extend after incarceration. Zimba said formerly incarcerated people are often met with skepticism about whether they will make use of the opportunities available to them.
“Nobody that we've encountered wants to fail,” Zimba said. “In fact, the opposite is true. Our participants are driven and make the most out of even the smallest opportunities available to them.”
Take Action
5 Ways to Support The Lilac House
Help Fund the Work
Support capacity-building and programs that can help The Lilac House expand its housing and reentry services for formerly incarcerated women.
Donate Essential Supplies
The residential program needs new bedding, women’s clothing and footwear, hygiene and self-care products, household cleaning supplies and basic office materials.
Volunteer Your Skills
The Lilac House is looking for skilled volunteers who can contribute their time and expertise to its residential and community programs.
Partner With The Lilac House
Share funding opportunities, corporate sponsorships or other resources that could help the organization grow. Tours are also available periodically for potential partners, donors and volunteers.
Support Reentry Work Where You Live
The need extends far beyond Westchester County. Look for organizations in your community providing direct reentry services, housing or advocacy for people returning home after incarceration.
Learn more or donate at thelilachouse.org. Donations may also be mailed to The Lilac House, 201 N 7th Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY 10550. For volunteer opportunities, contact Pamela Zimba at pamela@thelilachouse.org or (914) 230-0956.
