City Council Response to the Mayor’s FY26 Preliminary Budget
Apr.08.2025
On April 1, 2025, the New York City Council released its response to the Mayor's FY26 Preliminary Budget, proposing an additional $4.4 billion in expense spending to fill budget gaps, reverse cuts, and boost funding for critical programs. They're also recommending $2.8 billion for capital investments and plan to use a $1.9 billion surplus to meet emerging needs and build up reserves for unexpected risks.
Continue Reading …The Network & Supportive Housing Tenant Advocates Testify at New York City Council FY26 Preliminary Budget Hearings
Mar.27.2025
In March the Network testified at four New York City Council preliminary budget hearings: Committees on Finance; General Welfare; Health and Mental Health, Disabilities and Addiction; and Housing and Buildings. At Housing and Buildings, the Network testified alongside a panel of supportive housing tenant advocates.
Continue Reading …Network Joins Daniel’s Law Coalition and CCIT-NYC for a Week of Action and #PeersNotPolice Rally to advocate for a Peer-Led Mental Health Crisis Response System
Mar.25.2025
The week of March 23rd, the Network joined Daniel’s Law Coalition and Correct Crisis Intervention Today (CCIT-NYC) for a Week of Action marking five years since the killing of Daniel’s Prude to commemorate his memory and advocated for a peer-led mental health system in New York State and City.
Continue Reading …Comunilife Opens Woodhull II
Mar.14.2025
On March 13th, friends, supporters and partners gathered to celebrate the opening of Comunilife’s Woodhull II, the second collaboration with Health + Hospitals (H+H) and Woodhull Hospital creating supportive housing on the Brooklyn hospital’s parking lot. The 93-unit apartment building provides 56 homes to individuals who have experienced long-term homelessness as well as significant barriers to stability. On-site services are provided by Comunilife, funded by the NYC 15/15 Initiative through the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Additional health services will be provided by H+H.
Continue Reading …The Network Hosts Second Annual Virtual City Council Lobby Day
Mar.07.2025
On March 6th the Network hosted its second annual virtual City Council Lobby Day. Over 100 participants representing 40 unique organizations and over twenty tenants joined us for 21 meetings with Council offices throughout the day to advocate for budgetary and legislative priorities to advance supportive housing in New York City. Our top four priorities were:
Continue Reading …The Network Testifies at Charter Review Commission
Mar.05.2025
On March 4th, Network Executive Director Pascale Leone testified at the NYC Charter Review Commission on the need to review processes and policies surrounding the creation of much-needed supportive housing. She emphasized that certain procedures are adding years to the development process while failing to prioritize the City’s overall need to create housing for individuals and families experiencing long-term homelessness as quickly as possible. Specifically, she pointed to possible revisions of the Uniform Land Use Review Process (ULURP) process which typically adds one to two years to the time it takes to develop new affordable and supportive housing. Her testimony also included recommendations for coordinating systems that touch affordable housing development, wherein inspections and reviews can also add unnecessarily to the time it takes to build and open residences.
Continue Reading …Breaking Ground Hosts ‘Wallbreaking’ for 1760 Third Avenue
Feb.26.2025
Friends and partners gathered on February 25th for a “wallbreaking” for Breaking Ground’s latest project at 1760 Third Avenue. The newly rehabilitated building will provide 434 apartments for formerly homeless and low-income households, 261 of which are supportive including 40 for at-risk young adults. The building – on the Upper East Side of Manhattan – started life as a nursing home, then a dorm for students at Baruch and Hunter College and most recently a shelter for asylum seekers. Onsite services will be provided by Breaking Ground funded by the NYS Office of Mental Health and the NYC 15/15 Initiative through the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Continue Reading …The Network Testifies at NYC Council General Welfare Hearing and NYS Joint Assembly and Senate Budget Hearing on Human Services
Feb.13.2025
On February 12th, Network Director of Policy, Tierra Labrada, testified at the New York City Council Committee on General Welfare HASA Oversight Hearing highlighting the challenges in the referral process, the lack of data transparency and the cost of inaction. On February 12th, Network Chief Policy Officer Rebecca Zangen testified at the New York State Senate and Assembly Joint Budget Hearing on Human Services to advocate for the New York State Supportive Housing Program (NYSSHP).
Continue Reading …Unique People Services Breaks Ground on Ogden Theatre Apartments
Feb.03.2025
On January 31st, Unique People Services (UPS) joined project partners to break ground on Ogden Theatre Apartments. Once complete, this supportive/affordable residence will bring 85 affordable apartments, including 51 supportive, to the Highbridge section of the Bronx. The Ogden Theatre Apartments will be built on the site of a former movie theatre that was repurposed and turned into a bowling alley and church. Onsite services will be provided by Unique People under the NYC 15/15 Initiative funded by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Continue Reading …The Network’s Statement on the Upcoming 2025 Point-In-Time Count and the 2024 United States Department of Housing and Urban Development Findings
Jan.27.2025
As volunteers across New York prepare this week to do the annual PIT Count – an unduplicated count of the people in their communities experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness – the Network calls on our state and city elected leaders to act boldly to curb the rising tide of homelessness.
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