Hydroasis

About the project

Today, there are about five million Americans who were formerly incarcerated. These individuals are 10 times more likely to be homeless than the average citizen, and research shows it is most likely to happen immediately after release. Following release, formerly incarcerated persons confront numerous barriers to securing housing and employment. Without adequate transitional support, many end up re-incarcerated for minor offenses or parole violations. Housing is crucial for the wellbeing and stability of individuals involved in the criminal justice system. People leaving jail or prison often need help with housing as they transition back to their communities. Without safe housing, it is difficult for individuals to engage in vocational, educational, and therapeutic services and successful reentry is severely compromised.

Hydroasis embarks on a mission to transform the spaces that single parents and their children inhabit during the challenging process of reintegration into society. Like a lost traveler in the desert who longs for an Oasis, Hydroasis is an idyllic utopia located in the heart of Chelsea, New York. Hydroasis is a testament to the power of design that can change behavior, empathy and resilience in reimagining the path to a fresh start for those who need it most and for doing so in the most unexpected places.