Odyssey House George Rosenfeld Center for Recovery — Local services in New York

Clean long term rehab with single rooms for women with children. Single women and elderly men can also stay here, they have double rooms and rooms with 4 beds as well. It is a very beneficial program for someone who is struggling with addiction and/or alcoholism. First I would like to list all the pros about this program. Afterwards, I'll list what I see as the cons.

The program was designed well. You attend 3 to 4 groups daily (which is not a lot, but not too little either) You have a job function which also keeps you busy. Your job function will include something like : housekeeping, maintenance, expedition or kitchen etc. Usually once a day, maybe twice you do your job function to assist in keeping the house clean and running efficiently. There is a dining room and kitchen where everyone can eat 3 square meals per day and a snack at night before bed. There is a onsight laundry room, computer room, art room and gym. The gym is large and pretty much open all the time. As for the children and childrens needs. The rehab provides everything for them : diapers, wipes, formula and pretty much anything else that you can think of. They also have an onsight daycare for ages 1 month to 5 years old, when they go to kindergarten. I will say this. When I came here I had lost my children to ACS, I am grateful and thankful to this rehab and the counselors that I had who helped me to get my family back after I proved that I could stay clean. It would have taken a much longer time to get custody of my children back if I was not in Odyssey House. Thank you Ms. McCrimmon

Next I will list the negatives and cons of thjs program that I have seen over the past 8 months. There are a lot of people who work here and live here that can not conduct themselves properly or professionally. Rules and regulations of this building are very inconsistent and are enforced unequally. I found there is a lot of favoritism and "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" between the staff and clients here.

That is my review of Odyssey House....

Staff is EXTREMELY uncaring and disrespectful. My child was bitten until her skin was punctured and bleeding by another clients troubled child. I was told to put soap and water on it. Then yelled at and told by the deputy director of women and children to just go home since I think I’m better than everyone else. All because I was livid at the lack of concern and consequences that followed the incident with my 4 year old daughter being serverly bitten. There’s huge water bugs in the facility. There’s no daycare. Clients constantly cursing each other out and stealing each other’s personal belongings. This is a disaster and just a glorified shelter. I refused to complete this horrific program and left in a haste to go home. After being gone for 3 days I was threatened by Mr. Torres to have my belongings thrown in the streets, Butt upon entry we signed a waiver saying we have 7 days after discharge to collect our belongings. I reported the staff to acs and currently looking into reporting them to oasis for investigation this place is your worst nightmare especially for mothers...

My pregnant, 32 year old daughter was mandated to serve a 6-9 month sentence in an inpatient facility. She has been at Odyssey House for five months now. In just a few short months, I have seen an incredibly positive transformation. She was struggling with drug addiction for almost 10 years. My daughter has been in and out of numerous, unsuccessful inpatient facilities. It was just a matter of time when she would become a statistic!

This facility saved my daughter's life. They provided a welcoming, comfortable environment with an extremely competent, caring and compassionate staff! Mr. Jeremy King has been exceptional. I have never met anyone so passionate and committed to his work. Ms. Benn and Ms. Diaz are so professional and a true asset. I would recommend this facility without...