Newsfeed Category: New York City

Campaign 4 NY/NY Housing Launches at NYC Hall

Jun.09.2014

The crowd at the launch of Campaign 4 NY/NY Housing on May 28. Photo by Coalition for the Homeless.

The Network joined a crowd of more than 150 advocates on May 28 for the launch of Campaign 4 NY/NY Housing, a grassroots initiative to call on lawmakers to create a new New York/New York Supportive Housing Agreement.

This new coalition is urging Gov. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio to negotiate a City-State agreement to create 30,000 units of supportive housing over the next 10 years. To date, more than 150 organizations have signed on to the campaign’s platform. You can endorse the campaign by following this link. The Network is proud to have helped launch this campaign with such organizations as Coalition for the Homeless, CSH, Enterprise Community Partners and many, many others.

You can learn more about the Campaign 4 NY/NY Housing by reading these press highlights in Capital New York, New York Observer and The Real Deal.

Scott Stringer, Letitia James to Join Network Conference

Jun.03.2014

NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer and NYC Public Advocate Letitia James will deliver remarks at the closing cocktail reception of the 14th Annual New York State Supportive Housing Conference on Thursday, June 5.

We’re thrilled to announce two just-added special guests for the 14th Annual New York State Supportive Housing Conference this Thursday. Joining us to celebrate the day will be NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer and NYC Public Advocate Letitia James. Both elected officials will appear at our conference cocktail reception, which kicks off at 5:00pm after a full day of workshops, on the 9th floor of the New York Marriott Marquis.

Online registration for the conference is now closed, but those interested in attending can still register by fax or email until Wednesday, June 4 at noon. If you haven’t registered yet, we urge you to do so before Wednesday!

NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer is no stranger to our supportive housing conference. During his previous post as Manhattan Borough President and as a member of the NYS Assembly, Mr. Stringer made multiple appearances at our signature annual event. He will deliver brief remarks at the reception this Thursday to cap off the largest supportive housing conference in the nation.

Ms. James, New York City’s Public Advocate, will also speak and mingle at the conference cocktail reception. Ms. James was elected Public Advocate last year after fighting for affordable housing and economic justice in the City Council for 10 years. She will be making her conference debut with us this Thursday.

Advocacy Alert: Join NYC Supportive Housing Rally this Thursday

May.27.2014

The Network will join a diverse group of advocates this Thursday for a rally in support of a new supportive housing agreement between New York City and State.

Our staff will stand alongside others for the formal launch of Campaign 4 NY/NY Housing, a new initiative to advocate for a successor to the New York/New York III Supportive Housing Agreement. We urge you to join this event. The rally will take place on Thursday, May 29 at 11:00am on the steps outside New York City Hall.

Campaign 4 NY/NY Housing is calling on Gov. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio to negotiate a new City-State agreement to create 30,000 units of supportive housing for individuals and families with special needs over the next 10 years. To date, more than 130 organizations have signed on to the campaign’s platform. You can endorse the campaign by following this link.

A new agreement would follow up three successful agreements before it: NY/NY I in 1990, NY/NY II in 1999 and NY/NY III in 2005. With NY/NY III on track to complete all 9,000 units of supportive housing in just over 10 years, it’s imperative that the City and State create a new agreement to fund supportive housing. A new agreement would also serve as an essential tool in ending New York City’s current record levels of homelessness. Supportive housing has continually proven to be the most humane and cost-effective solution to ending homelessness for the most vulnerable New Yorkers.

NYC Budget Includes Significant Supportive Housing Increase

May.12.2014

NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio released his first executive budget on Thursday. The total budget for the 2014-2015 fiscal year is $73.9 billion dollars, providing significant funding to support many of the progressive plans the administration has laid out in its first few months. Notably, the budget includes $2.5 billion in capital funds over four years for the mayor’s new “Housing New York” plan to create and preserve 200,000 units of affordable housing over ten years. In his budget address, Mayor de Blasio specifically cited supportive housing as one of the tools that the City will use to reduce homelessness. Other highlights from the budget include: rental assistance for homeless families, capping HASA clients’ rent costs to no more than 30% of income and an increase in shelter beds for runaway and homeless youth.

“This executive budget proves that Mayor de Blasio is serious about solving New York City’s housing affordability crisis,” said Network Executive Director Ted Houghton. “The Mayor’s ambitious housing plan now has dollars attached to it. Placing $2.5 billion into the capital housing budget over the next four years will put us in a strong position to reach the mayor’s ten-year, 200,000-unit goal. I am particularly pleased by the budget’s plan to increase City capital funds for supportive housing development to over $100 million a year. This will fund the construction of thousands of units of permanent supportive housing for the most vulnerable New Yorkers, including homeless individuals, families and seniors.”

More specifically, Mayor de Blasio’s budget includes the following:

Grand Opening Held for Hour Children Apartment House III

May.08.2014

It was a celebratory day in Queens yesterday as Hour Children commemorated the grand opening of its third supportive housing residence.

Hour Children Apartment House III provides housing and services for 18 highly vulnerable families in the neighborhood of Long Island City. This pristine new residence houses 16 formerly homeless families through the New York/New York III Supportive Housing Agreement and two low-income families from the community. As in all of its supportive housing residences, Hour Children placed an emphasis on housing formerly incarcerated mothers and their children with its new project. The residence first opened its doors late last year and has already begun to flourish as a home for some of our neediest families.

Yesterday’s ribbon-cutting was a festive, colorful affair marked by guest speeches, prayer, song and dance. The event began with introductory remarks from Sister Tesa Fitzgerald, the CNN Hero and Executive Director of Hour Children. Her remarks gave way to the National Anthem, as sung by students from VOICE Charter School. A pastor from the Church of St. Vincent Ferrer then led the many partners and friends of the residence in a brief prayer.

NYC Mayor’s 10-Year Housing Plan Urges Investment in Supportive Housing

May.05.2014

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio today issued “Housing New York,” a plan to build or preserve 200,000 units of affordable housing over the next 10 years. The plan offers innovative strategies to increase affordability and broad unit production goals, including a plan to work with New York State to expand supportive housing development. Mayor de Blasio unveiled his housing plan at 262 Ashland Place, the site of a mixed-income housing project currently in development by Gotham Development Corporation and Network members Common Ground and The Actor’s Fund.

“Housing New York” outlines over 50 proposals to develop or preserve these new units of affordable housing. The plan states that supportive housing should serve an integral role in the fight to end homelessness and create new housing opportunities for vulnerable New Yorkers. It specifically advocates for the creation of a new supportive housing agreement between New York City and New York State as a follow up to the successful, 10-year New York/New York III Supportive Housing Agreement that is ending next year.

The Network fully supports this critical proposal to expand access to supportive housing across New York City.
 
“Mayor de Blasio’s housing plan provides the exact solutions we need to end our city’s record levels of homelessness,” said Ted Houghton, Executive Director of the Supportive Housing Network of New York. “This crisis calls for a robust investment in supportive housing and other housing options for homeless, disabled and very low-income individuals and families. The housing plan released today will work toward those goals. We’re especially pleased that the plan calls for a new City-State initiative to expand upon the successes of the previous New York/New York Agreements.”

Odyssey House Opens Tinton Avenue Residence

Apr.25.2014

Odyssey House has opened its second supportive housing residence in just one month. Yesterday marked the ribbon-cutting for Odyssey House Tinton Avenue, a brand-new supportive housing project in the Bronx. The residence houses 65 formerly homeless individuals through the New York/New York III Supportive Housing Agreement.

Odyssey House opened Soundview Avenue, home to 56 formerly homeless people in the Bronx, on April 10. The nonprofit now operates three supportive housing for the vulnerable men and women of New York.

Yesterday’s festivities featured remarks from several partners and friends. Among those to take the microphone were senior staff at Odyssey House, Moira Tashjian of the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) and Adrienne, a tenant at Tinton Avenue. Adrienne spoke of her experiences on the street and her life now in a newly-constructed supportive housing residence.

“When you’re in a shelter, you’re not living; you’re merely existing. Now I have a chance at being more independent and reaching my goals,” Adrienne told the crowd of attendees. “I can also think more clearly and take better care of myself. It’s a joy to have some stability back in my life.”

Livonia Commons Breaks Ground

Apr.21.2014

New York City broke ground earlier this month on Livonia Commons, a 278-unit project devoted to affordable and supportive housing in the Brooklyn neighborhood of East New York.

This $90 million development will consist of four individual buildings on a formerly vacant lot. Fifty-one of the units offered will be set aside for supportive housing. Of those, 43 of the units will house individuals with mental illness through the NY/NY III Supportive Housing Agreement and eight will house individuals with developmental disabilities through the NYS Office for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).

Network member Dunn Development Corp. is developing the project. The formerly homeless tenants will receive on-site support services from CAMBA, another Network member.

“Livonia Commons will help revitalize the Livonia Avenue corridor with a dynamic mix of new affordable housing, retail stores and community spaces,” said Martin Dunn, Dunn Development Corp. President and a member of the Network’s Board of Directors. “Working with our community partners, we'll build the kind of innovative and holistic development that the East New York community deserves.”

“CAMBA is proud to be part of Livonia Gardens, where our staff will provide comprehensive on-site case management services to residents who are formerly homeless or have disabilities,” said Joanne M. Oplustil, CAMBA’s President and CEO. “Our clients know they always have someone nearby to help them if a crisis arises. And over many years of experience, we’ve proven that supportive housing is a cost-effective and successful approach to ending homelessness and helping tenants flourish.”

Gene Estess, Wall Street Broker Turned Homeless Advocate, Passes Away

Apr.18.2014

The Network would like to pay its respects to Gene Estess, a former leader of the supportive housing community who passed away last week. Mr. Estess served for 18 years as the Executive Director of Jericho Project, one of our longtime members, from 1987 to 2005. He also acted as Chair of the Network’s Steering Committee from 2001-2002. He was 78 years old.

“Gene had a tremendous impact on Jericho Project and on the supportive housing community, and he truly believed in the transformative change that supportive housing has on the lives of homeless individuals,” says Tori Lyon, Jericho’s Executive Director and a Network Board Member. “He cared deeply about Jericho's tenants and staff, and he will truly be missed.”

Mr. Estess’ story is a unique and inspiring one. For years, Mr. Estess worked on Wall Street as a broker for L.F. Rothschild, Unterberg, Towbin, an investment banking firm. A 1984 encounter with a homeless woman would change his life forever. Mr. Estess met Patricia, a woman living with mental illness in Grand Central Terminal. He spoke with her daily at the station and offered her money for the day. He eventually helped her receive services at Jericho Project, which at that time was still in its infancy.

A short time later, Mr. Estess quit his job on Wall Street and become the nonprofit’s Executive Director. He was 52-years-old when he made this career U-turn.

"For 20-some-odd years I really didn’t have a good day," he said in a 2003 New York Times article. "I didn’t come home with any stories to tell or satisfaction or a feeling I’d done anything to help anybody except myself and my family."

New Supportive Housing Residence Opens in the Bronx

Apr.16.2014

Roughly 100 friends and partners gathered last week for the grand opening of Odyssey House Soundview Avenue, the new home of 56 formerly homeless New Yorkers. Located in the Bronx, this supportive housing residence provides studio apartments and access to services for some of the most vulnerable men and women in New York City.

A number of guest speakers were on hand at the April 10 ribbon cutting. Among those to deliver remarks at the event were NYS Rep. Marcos Crespo, James Lupoli of the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH), a tenant at the residence and several senior staffers at Odyssey House, the nonprofit developer of the project. Soundview Avenue is one of two supportive housing residences by Odyssey House to open in April.

“Helping people faced with the challenges of mental illness and/or substance abuse disorders is our mission,” said Dr. Peter Provet, President and CEO of Odyssey House. “With the opening this spring of these two new buildings, Odyssey House currently manages the housing and supportive services needs of 171 formerly homeless New Yorkers who, despite serious mental health challenges, are now living in their own homes.”

All 56 apartments at Odyssey House Soundview Avenue were built with funding through the New York/New York III Supportive Housing Agreement. OMH provided funding for both the construction of the residence and its operations and services. The NYS Housing Finance Agency contributed capital funding as well.