Newsfeed Category: New York City

Source of Income is a Protected Class Under NYC Human Rights Law

Apr.19.2016

Guest blog post by Darsana Srinivasan, Supervising Attorney, Law Enforcement Bureau, New York City Commission on Human Rights

Public assistance, including housing assistance through a variety of program subsidies and vouchers, is intended to provide individuals with mobility and access to better opportunity, yet it is often not enough to provide people with stable housing.  Luckily, an individual’s source of income is a protected class under the New York City Human Rights Law. The New York City Commission on Human Rights has been enforcing the source of income protection provided by the Law since its enactment in 2008. 

Comunilife Opens El Rio Residence in East Tremont

Apr.14.2016

Cutting the ribbon at Comunilife's new El Rio residence in the Bronx.

On a brisk spring day, Comunilife welcomed nearly 75 people to the grand opening of the El Rio Residence on Friday, April 8 in the Bronx neighborhood of East Tremont. Named in honor of the Bronx River which is just steps away, the 65 unit residence has 39 supportive and 26 affordable housing units. El Rio is Comunilife’s fourth supportive housing residence in New York City.

Staten Island Mental Health Council Hosts Community and Legislative Priorities Breakfast

Mar.21.2016

Left to right: Dr. Ginny Mantello, Borough Director of Health and Wellness; Assembly Member Mike Cusick; Larry Hochwald, Co-Chair of the Staten Island Mental Health Council; Linda Wilson Executive Director of NAMI-Staten Island Chapter; the Network's Executive Director Laura Mascuch; District Attorney Michael McMahon; and Terry Troia, Project Hospitality.

In the wake of the City and State’s recent commitments to creating 35,000 units of supportive housing over the next 15 years, Project Hospitality Executive Director Terry Troia invited Network Executive Director Laura Mascuch to present on supportive housing to this year’s Annual Staten Island Mental Health Council’s Community and Legislative Priorities Breakfast on Friday, March 4th.  Some 200 stakeholders discussed the Council’s agenda next year which will focus on the importance of creating supportive housing for homeless Staten Islanders struggling with mental illness; the need for funding for children’s mental health services; the need for employment support for Island residents living with mental illness.

Tax Program Crackdown Spurs $10 Million for Affordable/Supportive Housing

Mar.18.2016

On March 10th, at Institute for Community Living’s (ICL) Stepping Stone residence in Brooklyn, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced that $10 million in settlement fees from abuses of 421A will be invested in affordable housing including 600 units of supportive and senior housing citywide. In 2014, the Attorney General led an investigation into the abuse of tax incentive programs, leading to restitutions from 23 landlords who have failed to provide rent-regulated leases, violated tenant rights laws and denied service workers the required wages. Restitution will be spent on supportive housing for veterans, seniors, low-income families and the formerly homeless.

Herkimer Street Residence Cuts the Ribbon

Feb.16.2016

Cutting the ribbon at Herkimer Street Residence.

Some 70 partners and well-wishers gathered in the community space at Herkimer Street Residence to celebrate the opening of the Bridge’s newest residence, home to a mix of formerly homeless individuals and young adults as well as low-income families. The beautiful new building is the Bridge’s largest residence to date and brings the total number of individuals/families housed to 863!

Mayor de Blasio Releases His Preliminary Budget for Fiscal Year 2017

Jan.25.2016

Last week, Mayor de Blasio released his preliminary budget for Fiscal Year 2017. The $82.1 billion plan includes initial funding for the City’s 15,000 units of supportive housing over the next 15 years. The key areas impacting the supportive housing community include:

The Network Seeks a Director of Policy and Planning

Jan.22.2016

The Governor of New York State and Mayor of NYC recently committed to creating 35,000 units of supportive housing statewide, the majority of which will be developed in NYC. The Supportive Housing Network’s Director of Policy and Planning will 1) lead NYC policy and planning efforts to ensure these commitments are implemented in coordination with NYS; 2) work to identify and address barriers to implementation; 3) represent the Network and membership on key committees and task forces that further the mission; 4) provide ongoing support to members; and 5) provide active leadership in the NYC Continuum of Care.

Mayor Announces Supportive Housing Task Force

Jan.13.2016

On January 12, Mayor Bill de Blasio visited Catholic Charities’ Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan Residence to announce the formation of a Supportive Housing Task Force to help the city implement its plan to create 15,000 units of supportive housing over the next fifteen years. The Mayor was joined by HRA Commissioner Steve Banks, HPD Commissioner Vicki Been and many of the new task force members. The announcement is a momentous step forward in the preservation and development of supportive housing across New York.

Widespread Call for a Robust NY/NY4 Agreement

Jan.07.2016

Major media from around New York State, and local media, continue to call on Governor Cuomo for 35,000 new units of supportive housing statewide to address the burgeoning crisis with chronic homelessness, particularly among the most vulnerable.  These articles all appeared within the past month.

Veteran Cadillac Man Finds a New Home After Decades on the St.: what a long strange trip it’s been

Dec.15.2015

Richard Gere embracing Cadillac at the NYC premiere of "Time Out of Mind;" Cadillac in his new apartment in Queens, with Loree Sutton, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Veterans’ Affairs; Network's Cynthia Stuart and Sarah Schenck with Cadillac at the 2015 Supportive Housing Conference.

After nearly twenty years living on the street, Cadillac Man (aka Thomas Wagner), now 65,  moved into a permanent home in Astoria, Queens, the first week of December, after a  long saga dependent upon a series of serendipitous moments.