Hijrah House and its Purpose:

The Hijrah House (a halfway house) is a place where recently released inmates, who have no family or financial means can have an interim stay during their transition back into society’s mainstream. The purpose of a halfway house is to help transform these individuals into useful and contributing members of society so that they do not end up back in jail.

Services Provided by a Transition House:

• Provide room & board to inmates just released from prison.

• Help them become independent to get back on their feet.

• Teach basic skills such as responsibility, discipline, and sharing. They start out by learning cooking, cleaning, and washing and then go on to learning home budgeting.

• Provide an atmosphere where residents can practice their faith as well as learn appropriate life-coping skills. 

• Provide job training, resume service and job hunting assistance and maintain a list of employers who hire ex-inmates for tax credit.  

MUSLIMS HELPING HUMANITY

Some Facts:

·      In year 2000 Virginians paid $25,000 per inmate to keep the inmates in the prisons. According to a study conducted by Virginia Department of Corrections, 27% of the inmates will return to the prison within 2 years of their release. By keeping just one individual out of prison, the society will save $25,000 per year.

·      The inmates with support from their families or the society are less likely to return to prison and be a burden on the society.

·      The best way to transform an inmate is to meet his/her faith needs. While meeting the faith needs of the inmates, faith-based charities help bring peace and tranquility in the operation of the prison system.  

Muslim Chaplain Services of Virginia (MCSVA)
PO Box 24241 , Richmond , VA 23224-0241