Leadership Changes at New York State Homes and Community Renewal
Feb.27.2017
Former HCR Commissioner James S. Rubin and new HCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas.
On February 10, 2017 Governor Cuomo announced that James S. Rubin, Commissioner of New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), would become the new Director of Operations for the Executive Chamber. A week later, the Governor appointed RuthAnne Visnauskas to succeed Mr. Rubin as Commissioner of HCR.
Continue Reading …HHAP Awards Go to Three Network Members
Feb.24.2017
On February 1, 2017, the Homeless Housing Assistance Corporation awarded funding from the State’s Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) Homeless Housing Assistance Program for three supportive housing projects being developed by Network members. Together these projects will provide 142 new units of supportive housing.
Network Hosts a Panel with State Government Partners
Jan.25.2017
Laura Mascuch, Marian Zucker, Moira Tashjian, Rick Umholtz, Bret Garwood at the Network panel discussion.
On Tuesday, January 24th the Network hosted a panel discussion with our state government partners about the new ways New York State is implementing its supportive housing program through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI) and coordinating capital programs: NYS Homes & Community Renewal's Supportive Housing Opportunity Program (SHOP) and the Office of Temporary Disability & Assistance Homeless Housing Assistance Program (HHAP). The event was held at JP Morgan Chase Bank in NYC and had over 100 Network members attend.
Continue Reading …First Analysis of Governor’s SFY 2017-18 Budget
Jan.25.2017
Governor Cuomo released his SFY 2018 executive budget on January 17th which starts the clock ticking for budget season in Albany! Here is our first analysis of the SFY 2017-2018 budget areas important to the supportive housing community.
December HHAP awards announced
Jan.23.2017
Governor Cuomo and the Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance announced $14 million in Homeless Housing Assistance Program awards for six programs, including three new supportive housing projects. Awards were made through the state’s Office of Temporary & Disability Assistance’s Homeless Housing Assistance Program (HHAP) to create a total of 110 supportive housing units. Of those 110 units, 62 units have service and operating funding from the first round of the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI).
Prayer Vigil for Homeless New Yorkers Who Passed Away in 2016
Dec.30.2016
Peter Cook, Executive Director of the New York State Council of Churches, speaking to the press, flanked by Kevin O'Connor, Director of Joseph's House.
On December 21st, faith leaders held a prayer vigil outside the Senate chambers at the state capitol in Albany to honor the memories of homeless New Yorkers who died in 2016, part of National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day. Kevin O’Connor, Director of Joseph’s House in Troy, read the names of homeless individuals who passed away over the past year. “The average life expectancy of a person who is homeless in America is 52 years of age,” O’Conner said. “That’s 26 years younger than those who are housed.”
Continue Reading …Finger Lakes Rural Initiative Housing Project Opens
Dec.14.2016
One of the new buildings in the Finger Lakes Rural Initiative Housing Project.
As testament to the fact that supportive housing comes in all sizes and fits into any neighborhood, the Finger Lakes Area Counselling and Recovery Agency (FLACRA) opened four residences in four counties for individuals struggling with homelessness and substance abuse. The four buildings, located across the Finger Lakes region, will provide eight permanent homes for homeless individuals with a disabling condition and 14 transitional units for people in recovery from substance use.
Continue Reading …NY Faith Leaders Mark Thanksgiving With Plea for Homeless Housing
Nov.29.2016
The advent of Thanksgiving inspired faith leaders across New York State to call on the Governor to make good on his nearly year-old promise to create 20,000 homes for the most vulnerable homeless New Yorkers over the next fifteen years and release funds to pay for the first 6,000. Pastors and other religious representatives from Syracuse, Binghamton, Albany, and Long Island spoke of the crushing need in their own communities as well as the shocking number of homeless people statewide.
Continue Reading …Beautiful Ebenezer Square Apartments Opens in West Seneca
Nov.28.2016
Ebenezer Square Apartments
Living Opportunities of DePaul opened a beautiful supportive housing development, Ebenezer Square Apartments, in West Seneca on November 17th. The mixed-use development rises on the site of a long-vacant big-box store and features 100 affordable apartments, 75 of which are supportive housing units for persons in recovery from mental illness. The name Ebenezer Square is a nod to the Ebenezer Colonies which consisted of settlements of Inspirationists who migrated to what is now the town of West Seneca from Germany in 1843.
Continue Reading …20,000 Letters Campaign Launched to Urge Leaders to SIGN THE MOU
Nov.23.2016
On November 21, the Network, as part of the Campaign for NY/NY Housing, launched a new advocacy initiative to send 20,000 messages to our legislators in Albany – one for every supportive housing unit promised – to urge the Governor and Legislature to SIGN THE MOU TODAY and fulfill the supportive housing promise made last year!
If you haven’t done so already, click here to tell our legislative leaders to SIGN THE MOU!
Continue Reading …