ICNY and the New York Jewish Coalition for Criminal Justice Reform are asking diverse religious leaders to sign a public letter calling for additional City funding for supportive housing for New Yorkers involved with the justice system. We hope you will join us to support this proven solution to the City’s intertwined crises of public safety, homelessness, mental health, and inequality — a solution that will help us close the deadly and inhumane jails on Rikers Island.
Please click here to read the letter and add your signature. The time to act is now, while City budget decisions are being made. We hope to have 100+ diverse religious leaders sign the letter by this Friday, June 9.
The letter calls upon Mayor Eric Adams and Council Speaker Adrienne Adams to:
- Pass a budget including $57.8 million of new City funding to expand supportive housing, with $12.8 million specifically for people involved with the justice system
- Change the regulation that bars people from almost all supportive housing if they have been in Rikers for more than 90 days
The letter also highlights the connection between supportive housing and the urgent effort to close Rikers. (To learn more about supportive housing for New Yorkers involved with the justice system, click here to read a comprehensive report.)
Please lend your moral voice to this important effort. Clergy members, lay leaders, and faith-based activists of all faith backgrounds are invited to sign by the end of the day on Friday, June 9. (You can choose to sign as an individual, or on behalf of an organization.)
Click Here to Read and Sign the Letter
