NYC Council Member Gale Brewer (left) and PSCH tenant Charles Bailey at the Network's 2012 Awards Gala. Council Member Brewer introduced Mr. Bailey as one of 2012's Tenants of the Year.
The New York supportive housing community gathered together October 17 for the Network’s largest-ever Awards Gala. Held this year at Capitale in Manhattan, the Gala brought together more than 550 friends from across the state to celebrate the accomplishments of supportive housing tenants, providers, private sector partners and government allies.
The evening began with a cocktail hour, which gave attendees a chance to mingle and catch up with colleagues. This year’s sharp increase in attendance was both a blessing and a bit of curse; gala-goers quite literally rubbed elbows with hundreds of fellow friends in the near-capacity cocktail hall. Following this initial reception, Network Board Chair Bill Traylor then took the podium to open the awards ceremony. Mr. Traylor offered a rundown of the night’s honorees, all of whom illustrate that “the impossible is possible if you believe...and work like a demon,” he said.
Network Executive Director Ted Houghton then took over as the night’s MC. Mr. Houghton outlined the recent budgetary and legislative victories for supportive housing. In thanking the staff for their hard work making the Gala such a success he noted, to huge laughs, that the Network has “binders full of women.”
Carrie Michel-Wynne of YWCA of Rochester & Monroe County presented the night’s first award, Outstanding Residence of the Year, to Kathy Leahy of Rural Ulster Preservation Corporation (RUPCO) for the organization’s Stuyvesant Hotel.
(left to right) Carrie Michel-Wynne, Kathy Leahy and Ted Houghton.
In addition to providing supportive housing to the building’s tenants, the beautifully rehabilitated residence has triggered significant growth in the surrounding community. Ms. Leahy thanked the Network -- both for the award and for helping restore desperately-needed services funding.
“The Supportive Housing Network does a really great job of taking our collective stories and advocating for resources on a state and federal level,” Ms. Leahy said.
Tony Hannigan of Center for Urban Community Services then presented an Outstanding Residence award to Joan Montbach and Sally Bernstein of Palladia, Inc. for their Fox Point residence, one of the first NY/NY III supportive housing residences for families. Since opening in 2009, Fox Point has helped dozens of troubled families find stability through an array of social services for both parents and their children. The award also represents the 4th building designed by OCV Architects to win residence of the year.
(left to right) Ted Houghton, Joan Montbach, Sally Bernstein and Tony Hannigan.
NY State Senator Liz Krueger introduced the night’s first Tenant of the Year honoree: Vernell Wilson of the Homeless and Travelers Aid Society (HATAS).
(left to right) Ted Houghton, NYS Sen. Liz Krueger and Vernell Wilson.
Before Ms. Wilson took the stage, however, Sen. Krueger delivered a powerful address on the benefits of supportive housing.
“We need to make sure that we do more to support supportive housing and the incredible work that you do,” Sen. Krueger said. “I know from 20 years of work in anti-poverty programs that you can’t accomplish anything unless you have a home.”
Ms. Wilson, clearly humbled, effusively thanked the staff at HATAS for helping her get to where she is today. Charles Bailey, the second Tenant of the Year honoree, offered similar words for the organization that helped him: Promoting Specialized Care and Health (PSCH). He reserved special thanks for Crystal John, his case manager.
“For a long time, I didn’t think I was smart enough to do anything with my life,” Mr. Bailey said. “It was Crystal who said, ‘You are somebody. You can love yourself. You do have the courage to change.’ It’s not like she did any magic. She just believed in me.”
(left to right) Ted Houghton, Charles Bailey and NYC Council Member Gale Brewer.
NYC Council Member Gale Brewer, a longtime friend of supportive housing and the Network, introduced Mr. Bailey.
“This is a huge honor and an amazing audience,” said Council Member Brewer. “It’s a real blessing to have an organization like yours.”
Karen Sherman then received the night’s Private Sector Partner of the Year award. Through her practice at ShermanLaw, Ms. Sherman has provided legal services for more than 25 Network members over the past two decades.
Fred Shack and Karen Sherman.
“This is such an incredible community, and it’s amazing as a lawyer that I’m allowed to be a part of it,” Ms. Sherman said.
Former NYS Homes & Community Renewal (DHCR) Commissioner Deborah VanAmerongen then introduced the winner of the Tim O’Hanlon Unsung Hero of the Year award: Michael Skrebutenas, Chief Operating Officer at HCR. This newly-created award honors the legacy of NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s (HPD) Tim O’Hanlon, a supportive housing stalwart who retired the day after the gala. Ms. VanAmerongen praised Mr. Skrebutenas’ behind-the-scenes work, much of it across agency lines, to advance supportive housing at the State level.
“Mike really is the one who keeps his head while others around him lose theirs,” Ms. VanAmerongen said.
(left to right) Ted Houghton, Michael Skrebutenas and Deborah VanAmerongen.
The night’s final award went to HPD Commissioner Mathew Wambua, our Government Partner of the Year. Despite substantial federal cuts to HPD’s primary source of supportive housing capital, Commissioner Wambua announced earlier this year that HPD will double its production of supportive housing, from 500 to 1,000 units a year. He reminded the audience that he knew little about supportive housing when he became commissioner.
“Supportive housing represents the perfect encapsulation of the personal and professional values that I hold dearest, and I am eternally grateful for the gift of vision that all of you in this room have imparted upon me,” Commissioner Wambua said.
HPD Commissioner Mathew Wambua.
We’d like to thank our Gala co-chairs -- Bill Traylor of Richman Housing Resources and Hercules Argyriou and George Poulon of Mega Contracting -- and everyone who attended this year’s event.
For us at the Network, the Gala left us with batteries recharged and spirits renewed. It was such a delight to hear the impassioned words of tenants and all the people whose hard work keeps supportive housing alive and thriving in New York. We sincerely hope that the Gala had a similarly euphoric effect on all those with whom we shared the night.