Northern Lights shines for second chances
Former female prisoners get a new start

Katie Colleran | staff editor
kcolleran@smcvt.edu

Vermont is known for its abundance of maple syrup, snow and mountains. And, if the numbers keep rising, its abundance of female prisoners.

According to the Vermont Agency of Human Services, the number of incarcerated women in the state has increased five-fold, from 31 in 1996 to 176 at the end of 2006. The agency admits that Vermont only has the capacity to hold 155 women.

Vermont not only has limited space for the convicted, but until this spring, there was no housing for the released either. The women were left to sink or swim. Northern Lights, a new housing program in Burlington, opened on June 4 to give formerly incarcerated women a better chance.

A safe haven

St. Michael's alumna, Cara Gleason, works at Northern Lights. Katie Colleran, photo

Northern Lights does not take just anyone. As the only program of its kind in Vermont, women have to be dedicated to improving their lives. The cover of the Northern Lights handbook reads, “This program offers increased support and accountability for women who are returning from prison. It is a voluntary program for women who are serious about making a change."

“Women have to apply, go through two interviews and make a seven-month commitment,” says Cara Gleason, program coordinator and 1996 St. Michael's alumna. “The women need to recognize that by adding our rules they are making it a little harder so they can have more success in the long-run.”

Northern Lights is almost to its full capacity, with eight of its 11 beds filled, Gleason says.

The idea for Northern Lights came out of work done by a task force in Burlington three years ago. The community saw a need to address the growing number of incarcerated women, Gleason says.

“Not only are there more [women] going to jail, more are coming back and the community was starting to feel the impact,” she says. “A program like Northern Lights was one of the top recommendations that came from the report.”

Funded by state and federal aid, and private donations, Northern Lights uses a building owned by the Burlington Housing Authority. The program is managed by a consortium of eight community organizations, including the Howard Center for Human Services and Mercy Connections Inc. Since the services and the house are all located in Burlington the women have to be fromthe city, Gleason says.

“One of the stipulations for living here is that they have to be coming home,” she says. “We noticed the women most needed a home, support, and to be near their families and that was here.”

Northern Lights works to help the women find jobs and support in the area. The women have access to employment aid, a case manager and a 12-step program if they have a history of substance abuse, Gleason says. Under the custody of the Department of Corrections, the women are also allowed to spend time with their families.

“We are really just trying to provide a safe and respectful atmosphere for them to live in,” she says. “Coming into a house like this is a reaffirmation for women who often feel isolated or alienated from the community.”

Community support

Northern Lights has been well-received by the community, Gleason says.

“At first, people had their concerns and that was understandable,” she says. “But now, people really seem to love us. The support of the community is incredible.”

Ben and Jerry's revamped the backyard. Katie Colleran, photo

An abandoned building had sat on the site and the community pitched in to get it in working order by coming to help with improvements. Ben and Jerry’s even came and redid the back patio area, Gleason says.

“Each of the bedrooms in the house were ‘adopted’ by a family and decorated in a unique way,” she says. “Also, an interior decorator donated some time. With that help, we had money left over to buy nicer furniture for the rest of the house.”

Joan (last name withheld at request of Northern Lights) has been living at Northern Lights since July 23. The house has a great importance to her because two of her sons helped work on it, she says. At Northern Lights, Joan takes advantage of the programs offered. Her favorite group activity is relaxation night and she also has a mentor through Mercy Connections Inc., she says. 

“It’s great because they pair you up with someone your own age,” Joan says. “I have an awesome mentor.”

Because Northern Lights has done so much for her, hopefully more homes like it will open, she says.

“It makes me feel really good to know that there is a house like this for women like myself,” Joan says. “It’s a new start, a new beginning.”

Making changes

Michael Bellizzi is the superintendent of Dale Women’s Facility in Waterbury, Vt. Working inside one of two prisons for women in the state, he has seen the effects of increasing numbers.

Each bedroom was decorated by a family in the community. Katie Colleran, photo

“Eight years ago, the population was about 45. Now, between Dale and Windsor, there are 174,” he says. “There is no room for additions. We just try to fit them and then get them out. I always hold out hope that it’s going to get better, but the numbers keep increasing.”

The state would be better off with more community programs like Northern Lights, for non-violent offenders, Bellizzi says.

“Somehow or other, we need to work on the process of what we are doing with non-violent women,” he says. “If we keep doing what we are doing, we are going to need more beds.”

Vermont is working to solve the problem with the Incarcerated Women’s Initiative which hopes to " dramatically alter the current escalating trend in incarceration of women in Vermont." As liaison for the initiative at Dale, he knows others who are part of the initiative are doing their best, Bellizzi says.

In the meantime, there is Northern Lights.

“I hope that it's here for women in the future,” Gleason says. “I hope that it can continue to be a place of empowerment and strength. They know what they need and if we can support an environment where they can be successful, then they can do it.”