The new Why Not Prosper transition facility. (Photo: Rasheed Z. Ajamu)

The music was great, and the vibes were immaculate at the unveiling and open house of the new Why Not Prosper transitional housing facility for women in reentry Wednesday afternoon, April 30.

The transition home sits next door to the WNP headquarters, extending the property’s reach. WNP empowers formerly incarcerated women through programs focused on housing, employment, education, and personal development.

WNP founder and executive director, Dr. Rev. Michelle Simmons, takes the approach of providing a “hand up, not a handout” through the many activations the site offers.

The new transitional housing facility features three floors, complete with a full kitchen, bathrooms on each floor (including an ADA-accessible bathroom on the ground floor), a living room, a dining room, and an office. Women have to be over the age of 18 and are offered six months to a year to pursue opportunities.

According to Shakerah Blake, who does community outreach at WNP, women staying here do undergo mandatory assessment, which “really consists of them staying clean and on the right path.” However, women also gain access to WNP programming, such as their workforce academy, which offers training to develop skills for future employment.

While it was unveiled on Wednesday, the facility has been functioning for a couple of weeks. “The women were calling and calling, so we had to go ahead and open it,” the Rev said.

This has been an eight-month project. When the building went on sale, Simmons sprang into action to obtain grants and funding for it.

The founder and team celebrated in the same spirit that the organization operates: through offering. WNP’s chunk of Chelten Ave. featured information tables, clothes and food giveaways, a cookout with food for all, a DJ spinning tunes, and the Rev MC’ing on the mic while goers danced and performed with each other.

Blake previously worked in corrections and says there is a deep need for housing for women transitioning back into society after incarceration.

“I found that a lot of women return back to prison because they don’t have nowhere to go,” she said. “If you come home, you got some place to stay, some type of structure, you can try to stay on the right path.”

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections’ 2022 Recidivism Report, 58.5% of women released in 2016 recidivated within three years. Housing instability has been linked as a contributing factor to the lives of formerly incarcerated Philadelphians, particularly women, who reoffend.

The Rev weighs in on the matter, saying, “Housing is the foundation for all people. Especially formerly incarcerated people. If they don’t have somewhere to rest and recoup their thoughts, then it’s hard to rebuild. Right? It’s hard to regain custody, to stay clean, living from pillar to post.”

Simmons said she is proud to be an ambassador for this cause and is glad she “stayed true to the assignment.”