Showing Posts by Date: 10/2013
10.31.2013
Frank Lipton has left an indelible mark on the supportive housing community. The recipient of our 2013 Tim O'Hanlon Unsung Hero of the Year Award, Dr. Lipton has served for decades at the NYC Human Resources Administration. He delivered the following speech, one of the widest-ranging and most moving we've heard at our 2013 Awards Gala on October 16. With his permission, we've printed it here in full. For a greater picture of Dr. Lipton's contributions to supportive tenants and providers, see here. Transcript:
This is a wonderful honor. When I received Bill [Traylor]’s email informing me that Network was going to recognize me with Tim O’Hanlon’s Unsung Hero award, I had to read it twice as it was so poetic and inspirational that I couldn’t believe he was really talking about me. I was truly moved and began to go over the path that has landed me here tonight at Capitale, a great space where over the years I’ve had the good fortune of dining and dancing.
I cannot accept this award without first recognizing Mayor Bloomberg, HRA Commissioner Robert Doar and former Commissioner Verna Eggeleston, all of whom are signatories to the NY/NY III Agreement. I want to also recognize former Commissioner Bill Grinker who made the first NY/NY Agreement happen in 1990. Thanks Bill for being here tonight! And thank you Pat Smith, HRA’s First Deputy, for your ongoing guidance and support.
Continue Reading …10.31.2013
United to End Homelessness held two Twitter rallies this month to urge New York City's mayoral candidates and debate moderators to discuss homelessness during the final debates leading up to NYC's citywide election on November 5. The most recent of these rallies was held on Monday, when more than 55 organizations (including the Network) took to Twitter to call on Bill de Blasio, Joe Lhota and moderator Melissa Russo to "Home in on Homelessness."
Yesterday, the coalition's efforts paid off. After several debates in which the word "homeless" was never uttered, moderators at last asked both candidates to detail their plans to reduce NYC's record level of homelessness. You'll find a transcript of the exchange below. To watch the entire debate, head here. You can read the tweets from October's Twitter rallies by following this link.
The number of homeless people spending the night in city shelters recently surpassed 51,000, which is now more than the number of seats at Yankee Stadium. That’s a 64% increase since 2002, when Mayor Bloomberg took office. Have the Bloomberg administration’s policies on homelessness failed, and, if so, what specifically would you do differently? Mr. Lhota, you’re up first.
Continue Reading … | New York City10.24.2013
The Network’s Ted Houghton appeared on “Human Services News and Views” this week to discuss two new campaigns to address homelessness and housing in New York City.
In a dialogue with program host Allison Sesso, Mr. Houghton spoke about the Housing First! campaign to expand and preserve affordable housing and the United to End Homelessness coalition of homeless and housing advocates. Both organizations have run campaigns this year to educate NYC’s mayoral candidates. They’ve also both released detailed policy manuals for the next mayor, titled Building Stronger and A Roadmap to Ending Homelessness. You can listen to the episode here and learn more about Housing First! and United to End Homelessness here.
“We’re very much encouraged that both candidates are talking about affordable housing,” Mr. Houghton said during the program. “The fact is that the next mayor has to do something about this issue. The good news is there are proven strategies that he can adopt to really make a dent in both the housing problem and the homelessness problem.”
Continue Reading … | New York City, Press10.21.2013
Ted Houghton introduces guests at the Network's Awards Gala. For more pictures from the event, see our Facebook page or scroll to the bottom of this article.
New York’s supportive housing community congregated once again last week for the Network’s tenth annual Awards Gala. Some 550 guests arrived at Capitale on Wednesday for a night to celebrate the outstanding individuals and residences of supportive housing.
Despite the federal government shutdown and a still-recent death in the supportive housing family, the mood was cheery at Capitale. The evening began with a 90-minute cocktail hour as guests arrived, mingled, sipped drinks and noshed on hors d'oeuvres. We made sure to give guests plenty of time to network, celebrate old friendships and make new ones.
The night culminated, as always, with our awards ceremony. This year, we awarded five remarkable individuals and two stellar residences. Richman Housing Resources President Bill Traylor began the ceremony with a quick welcome and a moving tribute to Alan Epstein, a Network Board Member who passed away last month.
“We dedicate this night to the memory of Alan Epstein, a great friend and a great champion,” Mr. Traylor said. “Alan also loved a great party, so we have to party as well.”
Next to the stage was Network Executive Director Ted Houghton, who served as a master of ceremonies for much of the night. Mr. Houghton sought to reassure those assembled that the shutdown would not impact supportive housing’s established reputation in government.
Continue Reading … | Network Events10.15.2013
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Click here on tickets for information to our Gala!
Hill Street Inn is a standout on any number of levels: It suffered (and survived) one of the worst not-in-my-backyard battles in our community’s history; it provides homes to 20 individuals, most of whom never imagined they’d be living indoors much less have a beautiful home of their own; and it provides a gorgeous new resource for the Troy community.
Hill Street Inn is emblematic of what supportive housing is all about: It has fostered a community within the residence and bolstered the community surrounding it.
For Joseph’s House and Shelter, the road has been a long one. The organization overcame neighborhood opposition and two lawsuits to build Hill Street Inn over the course of seven years. Now, with the building’s unqualified success as a safe, inviting addition to Troy, the initial pushback seems like a dim memory.
“We’re proud of this program for a lot of reasons,” says Kevin O’Connor, Executive Director of Joseph’s House. “The housing-first model works. Plus the building is beautiful and is really becoming a center for the community.”
Continue Reading … | New York State, Network Events10.14.2013
A new partner has emerged in the development of New York supportive housing.
Capital One, one of the nation’s top affordable housing lenders, has provided more than $86 million in specialized financing for New York supportive housing since 2008. The bank has helped finance five residences – from Common Ground, Fortune Society, Phipps Houses, Broadway Housing Communities and Providence House/Alembic Community Development.
Combined, these residences now provide 516 homes for formerly homeless or low-income New Yorkers.
Rick Lyon has been helping to lead this charge at Capital One. As Senior Vice President and Head of Commercial Real Estate, Mr. Lyon provides financial services to the real estate development and investment community on behalf of the bank. He joined Capital One in early 2008; that same year, his leadership propelled the bank to increase its investment in supportive housing.
“Capital One shares the Network’s mission to invest in innovative, effective solutions to end homelessness and to increase access to affordable housing among our city’s most vulnerable populations,” says Mr. Lyon.
Continue Reading … | Network Events10.11.2013
A capacity crowd gathered yesterday to celebrate the grand opening of CAMBA’s newest supportive housing residence.
97 Crooke Avenue, also known as the Reverend Dan Ramm Residence, brings 53 units of supportive and low-income housing to the Brooklyn neighborhood of Flatbush. This $15.3 million development now houses a mix of formerly homeless adults who suffer from mental illness and low-income individuals from the community.
Yesterday’s festivities were distinctive and unique in several ways. Before entering the nine-story residence, attendees noshed on high-quality, organic donuts from a food truck parked just outside the residence.
Once inside, the roughly 100 guests heard the story of 97 Crooke Ave., a residence that brought many disparate partners together in the name of providing housing and support services to formerly homeless and low-income New Yorkers.
Joanne Oplustil, CAMBA President/CEO and a Network Board Member, introduced each of the day’s guest speakers. NYS Rep. Rhoda Jacobs was the first to take the podium to congratulate and praise CAMBA.
“We know that decent, affordable housing is less costly to society than shelters, and yet we struggle for resources,” said Rep. Jacobs. “Fortunately, we have a warrior in Joanne.”
Continue Reading … | New York City, Member News, Openings10.11.2013
Click here for information on tickets to our Gala!
Before she even turned 30, Shannon McEachern had experienced life on the streets in New York, California, Colorado, Arizona, North Carolina and Florida.
Ms. McEachern had no home and suffered from an unshakeable drug addiction. Across the country, friends offered her bus tickets and a place to stay. Each city held the promise of a new beginning. But with each city, the same drama unfolded: Her friends couldn’t live with the drug use, and so Ms. McEachern found herself roaming the streets, suitcase by her side, asking strangers for shelter. She’d steal cash for food and sleep in abandoned buildings. A Binghamton native, Ms. McEachern lived this nomadic life for 10 long years.
Those years, thankfully, are over. In 2012, Ms. McEachern moved into supportive housing from the YWCA of Binghamton and Broome County. She has since gotten clean, become a community volunteer and grown into an all-star housing advocate.
“I stand in awe of Shannon,” says YWCA of Binghamton and Broome County Executive Director Carole Coppens. “Many of us with far more privilege don’t have the courage that this woman has.”
Ms. McEachern has blossomed into a capable, inspiring adult. She now meets with a case manager and vocational counselor to develop her newfound sense of confidence. She holds a part-time job at a local library and is working toward going to college for the first time.
Continue Reading … | New York State, Network Events10.10.2013
Common Ground held a ground-breaking ceremony yesterday for the second NYC supportive housing residence to begin construction using NYS Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) capital funding.
The project, Boston Road, will bring 154 units of supportive housing to the Bronx. The residence will provide housing and services to a mix of low-income and formerly homeless individuals and seniors.
Dozens of friends and partners gathered on Wednesday to celebrate the start of construction. The event included a number of illustrious guest speakers, including NYS Homes & Community Renewal (HCR) Commissioner Darryl Towns, former NYC Council Member Helen Foster and NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Deputy Commissioner Eric Enderlin. Common Ground Executive Director Brenda Rosen served as the master of ceremonies for the late-morning event.
“This is a creative approach to dealing with an epidemic [of homelessness],” Ms. Foster said. “Let this be an example of what we do going forth in the city.”
Continue Reading … | New York City, Member News, Groundbreakings10.10.2013
Click here for information on tickets to our Gala!
Johanna Flores bounced back in a big way.
Years ago, as a 19-year-old single mother in Tijuana, Ms. Flores was desperate to find a job to support her son. She met a man who offered her money to smuggle a suitcase full of diamonds from Mexico to New York. With hesitation, she accepted.
But it turned out that suitcase carried five kilograms of cocaine. Ms. Flores made this discovery at the JFK Airport, along with a swarm of police officers. She’d spend the next four years in prison.
More than a decade has passed since her arrest. Today, Ms. Flores is a full time employee of Hour Children, a college student, a housing advocate, a mother and a role model to formerly incarcerated women everywhere.
“At first all I did was cry. I wanted to die,” says Ms. Flores about her incarceration. “Then, one day I stopped crying and realized I had to face reality.”
She learned English, took courses and worked at the prison nursery. But she still had no prospects after release: no friends, no money and no home. So when Hour Children, a nonprofit that provides housing and services to incarcerated women, threw out a lifeline, she grabbed it.
Continue Reading … | Network Events