What We Do

The mission of Abraham House is to prevent criminal relapse among the incarcerated and to stop the intergenerational cycle of crime by offering individuals, youth, and families affected by incarceration and other societal ills, a place of hope and community where lives can be rebuilt, families mended, and lessons learned – where men, women, and children receive the spiritual, social and practical tools to become productive citizens. The unique focus and approach utilized by Abraham House through its programs, is not limited to the rehabilitation of the criminal offender involved in the Alternative to Incarceration Program, but also on the family as a key partner in the process of rehabilitation and prevention of future criminal behavior.

Abraham House accomplishes its mission through three core programs: an Alternative to Incarceration Program (ATI); an After-School and Summer Program (ASP), and a Family Pastoral Center (FPC).

The Alternative to Incarceration Program (ATI) is the core component in Abraham House’s mission to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty and crime. The ATI Program works with mostly criminal justice involved nonviolent adults who have been assigned by the judicial system to Abraham House for a period of rehabilitation lasting 1 to 3 years. The program has both a residential and non-residential component. To graduate, the criminal justice involved must meet the requirements of the judicial system as well as Abraham House’s internal policies and guidelines. The program fights the high rate of recidivism by preparing the criminal justice involved for the day they will rejoin society. Participants are expected to take responsibility for the financial and emotional stability of their families and to act as role models for their children, to accept all the responsibilities of parenthood and to learn how to break patterns of behavior that may have led to their current circumstances. 
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The After School and Summer Program (ASP) offers a safe haven, academic support, counseling, and youth development curriculum to help children move ahead to the next academic grade, graduate from high school, and stay free of juvenile delinquency and criminal activity. Started in 1999, the After School and Summer Program was initially geared to younger at-risk youth – specifically children of the incarcerated as well as those youth experiencing other societal at-risk factors. The ASP’s goal and priority is to provide quality after-school programs as well as case-management and intervention services, to youth and families residing in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx which for many years has been plagued with various social problems, particularly poverty and crime.
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The Family and Pastoral Center (FPC) serves as a place of community and strength, where families affected by incarceration and other social factors, can find hope, solace, friendship, and various support. The Family Center component provides case management, counseling, advocacy, and referrals to essential services – to help families deal with crises and ongoing challenges. The Pastoral Center component offers religious services and education, a hot meal on Saturdays, and community outreach services which include a food pantry, and clothing bank.
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