The heart of New Beginnings is the purchase and rehabilitation of dilapidated housing near our office in Ossining, New York. Hudson Link alumni are engaged in the renovation of these properties, working side-by-side with trade professionals to gain real-world, meaningful work experience that will help nurture a sense of value, accomplishment, and self-reliance – and provide a critical basis for future employment. In this way, we intend to empower formerly incarcerated people to improve their own lives and the lives of those that follow in their footsteps.
After renovation, Hudson Link operates the restored properties as temporary housing for returning program alumni. We understand that reentering citizens face a complex matrix of needs, especially when it comes to housing. With New Beginnings, Hudson Link provides a safe and stable temporary home, free of charge, while our released alumni get back on their feet. In addition to safe and stable housing, New Beginnings provides newly released alumni with case management support to further their education, find housing, seek employment, and—most importantly— help them rejoin and enrich their communities! Though Hudson Link has always offered informal, responsive support to our students and alumni when they come to us with specific needs, we were finally able to add a staff member whose time was fully dedicated to the more clinical wraparound services that people often need during the transition from prison to the community.