The Need: a small, supportive, long-term residence for mature indeterminate offenders on parole.
The Issues
- Offenders serving life sentences (indeterminate offenders) who are designated “low risk” are able to serve the remainder of their sentences in the community under supervision of a parole officer.
- Most indeterminate offenders on parole are mature or seniors (55+). Most, if not all, are unable to obtain employment due to age and/or health issues. They have no marketable skills due to lack of training, and are entirely unaccustomed to the pace and sophistication of life in the outside community.
- Mature or elderly indeterminate offenders on parole are particularly vulnerable to isolation, depression, and suicidality.
The Vision
In keeping with our mandate to support Orthodox inmates throughout their incarceration, St. Silas Prison Ministry is committed to providing a residential “sanctuary” for those offenders in our care (Orthodox or otherwise) who are serving indeterminate sentences on parole in the community.
The Sanctuary is not a halfway house or treatment center. It is a privately-owned residence for offenders to rent once they have been granted permission to live independently outside of a halfway house (full parole).
The Sanctuary residence would consist of the following:
- A common house with a kitchen, laundry dining room, living room, and office space.
- Tiny houses or Prefabricated homes for no more than five residents.
- An Orthodox chapel for daily services. The residents would attend Sunday Liturgy at a local parish.
- A communal garden.
- A workshop for wood, leather working, iconography, and/or other crafts.
Support the Sanctuary
You can support the Sanctuary through our Zeffy account by making either a one-time donation or a monthly donation. Our fundraising goals are two-fold:
- down payment of $250,000 to purchase a property
- monthly support from regular donors to cover ongoing costs
