Founded in 1988, The Doe Fund’s mission is to develop and implement cost-effective, holistic programs that meet the needs of formerly homeless and incarcerated individuals working to break the cycles of homelessness, addiction, and criminal recidivism.

The Doe Fund’s flagship Ready, Willing & Able (RWA), founded in 1990, is a 9-to-12 month residential program that successfully addresses the dual issues of recidivism and poverty by transitioning homeless and formerly incarcerated men to mainstream society by offering a unique combination of paid work, transitional housing, professional career training, comprehensive social services, sobriety support, and case management. The Doe Fund works to address the negative impact that homelessness, recidivism, and unemployment have on men between the ages of 16 - 65 in New York City. Our efforts are specifically focused in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. The Doe Fund serves men who were formerly homeless and or incarcerated with histories and/or risk of criminal justice contact, incarceration, and substance abuse, who are physically and mentally able to work. By providing those leaving prison with a job, a home, and a supportive environment in which to heal and rebuild, our program is proven to reduce recidivism by an unparalleled 62% after 3 years.

While we experience an unprecedented crisis, work continues to define The Doe Fund. Ready, Willing & Able (RWA) program participants have never been more committed to doing their part to ensure the safety and cleanliness of New York City than now. The Doe Fund’s long-standing Community Improvement Project (CIP) street cleaning and sanitation service, a vital part of RWA’s paid work program, is an essential business operation needed to keep the streets of New York City clean and safe during this global health crisis that has hit our community harder than most. 

Over 215 CIP trainees currently provide enhanced sanitation services to eleven neighborhoods throughout New York City, including cleaning and sanitizing sidewalks, trash cans, parking meters, and street furniture with disinfectant solutions recommended for COVID-19. RWA trainees are sanitizing our transitional housing facilities and disinfecting the transportation fleets used to transport trainees to and from worksites. During these challenging times, the Men in Blue are proud to stand on the frontlines and heroically give back to our city in its time of need.