Halfway houses face daunting challenges

Complaints raise concerns about conditions, treatment

An inmate who has been ordered to participate at the 180 Degrees 236 Clifton halfway house says something needs to be done about the conditions inmates are faced with.

Willie Crump, who was ordered to transition from Faribault Minimum Security Prison to 180 Degrees this past July, says his journey towards corrected behavior has been surrounded by corruption far beyond cell walls. He says life inside facilities like the 180 Degrees halfway house and Faribault Minimum Security Prison are far from what the public might expect. He says inmates are subjected to unsafe, unsanitary and unjust conditions that violate their basic human rights.

“As someone who is living through these conditions, I feel it is my responsibility to bring attention to what is happening. This is a cry for help,” said Crump. 

“The conditions at 180 Degrees halfway house and Faribault Minimum Security Prison are not only unacceptable, but they are also unconstitutional. As inmates, we are still human beings with rights, and those rights are being violated daily. Get us out of this place if you want us to succeed. The Department of Corrections is putting us in bad environments expecting us to do good.”

These complaints are coming in during 180 Degrees’ roughly $5 million renovation on their Clifton location building that is just about to be completed. I80 Degrees is a longstanding re-entry program for incarcerated men. It opened its doors in 1973 and has evolved to a wider range of social services for youth, adults and families facing adversity. The Clifton location in particular serves about 250 men annually, with a capacity for 36 inmates at a time. 

Chief Programs Officer Richard Coffey says he is proud of what 180 Degrees is able to provide for individuals within Clifton House — and all their programs alike. “I love what we do. Without programs like Clifton House, many of our men would be sent back to prison,” said Coffey. 

“I’m not mad at the individual who reached out with complaints. The truth is, not everyone is happy to be here. My goal is to make sure everyone here gets the help they need to take that next step forward in reintegrating back into society — and it’s a process.”

Prison-to-halfway-house is a common Department of Corrections practice intended to support the rehabilitation process of inmates. Like Crump, before inmates are released back into society they are often required to complete a portion of their sentence in transitional housing — commonly known as a halfway house — like 180 Degrees (which no longer subscribes to the term due to its derogatory connotation). 

Halfway houses are predominantly funded by the U.S. Department of Justice but run by private contractors. This influences the requirements, rules and regulations an inmate must adhere to, in addition to orders issued by federal, state and county courts. 

Crump says this leaves room for inconsistencies that lead to unethical conditions. He says aside from the toll that prison generally has on inmates, he feels the lack of regard for proper rehabilitation is setting up our local incarcerated community for failure.

“180 Degrees halfway house, located at 236 Clifton Avenue South in Minneapolis, is meant to be a transitional space where individuals who have served time in prison can begin to rebuild their lives,” says Crump. “Instead, it has become a nightmare. The living conditions are appalling, and those of us living here are being subjected to mistreatment and negligence by the staff and the Department of Corrections (DOC).”

Crump says they are forced to live in a building that is falling apart, with mold and asbestos throughout. He also says the tap water often comes out brown, the electrical systems are dangerous, and the pest issue is out of hand and affecting the sanitation of their food.

“The conditions are so dire that the kitchen, which should be the heart of the facility, has been closed off for months. It’s been boarded up for over seven months now. Instead of having a functional kitchen, the food is prepared at a staff house and then brought to us. 

“The situation is so bad that we don’t even have a proper place to wash our hands, only access to a basement or a janitor’s closet. This is a fundamental violation of hygiene standards,” said Crump. “It’s bad enough that we are living in these horrific conditions, but to be served food that has already been eaten by rodents before it reaches us is beyond appalling.”

180 Degree CEO Dan Pfarr, says the major renovation has been a 7-month-long process so far. On January 24 a brand-new kitchen with stainless steel surfaces, tile floors, and a commercial stove stop was completed at the building. MSR was invited to the building for a walk-through and got to meet their cook who helps prepare the food. 

Bathrooms were updated with tile and modern appliances, as well as their washers and dryers, and they also installed a half-million-dollar security camera system. Pfarr did mention that they had a water issue to correct, as well as some electrical wiring — two issues Crump raised.

“If this [complaint] was said a year and a half ago, I’d understand the dissatisfaction,” said Pfarr. “I don’t think everyone understands how difficult it is to fundraise for facilities like these. Comparatively speaking, we probably have one of the best buildings of this kind in the Twin Cities. We took a big risk with this renovation, as it’s hard to get investors into these kinds of needs, and we’ll probably spend the next 20 years paying this back,” said Pfarr.

Crump also says he is denied his right to his daily prayers as a Muslim and can’t attend Jumah prayers on Fridays. In addition, he says he is skeptical about fraud and corruption after being forced to give his Social Security number to an unknown person for assessments that he didn’t request; he claims that 180 Degrees has been billing medical companies for services he never received.  Crump says he has tried to address all these concerns, but that it hasn’t led to a positive impact. 

“One of the most frustrating aspects of living at 180 Degrees has been the retaliation from staff. Any complaints we make or any attempt to stand up for our rights is met with punishment. This retaliation is not just from the halfway house staff, but also from DOC staff,” said Crump.

Pfarr says while 180 Degrees is responsible for making sure its residents secure a job and housing to complete their release, they must also abide by all orders, rules and regulations provided by the Department of Corrections regarding everyone’s case. He says sometimes they must be firm, but that leaving a participant feeling punished is never the intent. He says mental health can sometimes be a factor, amongst other things, in how a participant may respond.

Pfarr and Coffey did provide MSR with a Facility Inspection Report completed by the Minnesota Department of Corrections this past November. According to the document, 180 Degrees was 96% in compliance with mandatory requirements and 98.67% in compliance with essential requirements. The document acknowledges that the facility is undergoing an extensive remodel project, including installing a large conference room, adding a fresh coat of paint, finishing the floors, and adding better lighting.

“It hurts my heart that an individual isn’t happy with their stay here. I also understand why they feel that way,” said Coffey. “Most of the people here look like me [Black]. So, I understand how conditions have not been the best for us both in and out of our systems, and we are doing our best to truly help individuals move forward.”

Pfarr says remedying the effects of a complex and deeply structured system is no minor feat — especially within the 60-90-day allocated time frame for an inmate’s stay.

Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses to jmcbride@spokesman-recorder.com.