Newsfeed Category: New York State

New study supports widespread call for 35,000 units of supportive housing statewide

Nov.04.2015

Legislators from around New York State support a robust NY/NY4.

There have been bipartisan calls for 35,000 new units of supportive housing across the state in recent weeks, most notably in Rochester and in Buffalo, as well as in New York City.
 

Buffalo Legislators and Community Leaders Call for 35,000 Supportive Housing Units

Sep.24.2015

Photos on left and right: Project Homeless Connect reaches out to create a bridge of support services for homeless citizens. Photo in center: on stage at the event (from left): Mark Boyd, representative for Assembly Member Crystal Peoples-Stokes; Gale Burstein, Erie County Health Commissioner; Mark Schroeder, Buffalo City Comptroller; Senator Tim Kennedy (D-Buffalo); Network member Joyelle Tedeschi, Director of Programs, Matt Urban Hope Center (speaking); Senator Marc Panepinto (D-Buffalo); Assembly Member Sean Ryan (D-Buffalo).

Project Homeless Connect, the annual event that provides services to more than 600 Buffalo area homeless individuals was also the backdrop this year, for state legislators and community leaders’ calling on Governor Cuomo to fund 35,000 supportive housing units across the state to help address homelessness among the neediest New Yorkers.

Gov. Cuomo Accepts Recommendations Aimed at Easing Re-entry for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals

Sep.24.2015

Governor Cuomo this week accepted all 12 recommendations aimed at easing re-entry and reintegration for formerly incarcerated individuals made by the Council on Re-Entry and Reintegration. One of the recommendations calls for the inclusion of re-entering individuals coping with mental illness as a target population for supportive housing.  The Council was convened last year and included Network members JoAnne Page, President and CEO, The Fortune Society and George McDonald, Founder and President of the Doe Fund.

Governor Announces End of AIDS Taskforce

May.08.2015

Last week, Governor Andrew Cuomo released a blueprint to end the AIDS epidemic in New York State by 2020: 2015 Blueprint – Ending AIDS. The taskforce’s blueprint offers 30 recommendations on how to support the Governor’s  plan to reduce new HIV infections and improve the health of all HIV infected New Yorkers by: 1) identifying people with HIV and linking them to health care, 2) getting HIV patients on anti-HIV therapy, and 3) providing access to pre-exposure prevention measures for high risk individuals. The goal of the plan is to reduce new HIV infections from 3,000 to 750 and reduce by 50% the rate at which persons diagnosed with HIV progress to AIDS by 2020.   

Highridge Gardens Opens in Poughkeepsie

May.08.2015

Rehabilitation Support Services' new residence in Poughkeepsie, Highridge Gardens

On April 17th,  Rehabilitation Support Services (RSS), Inc. held a ribbon-cutting in Poughkeepsie for Highridge Gardens, a 50 unit supportive housing project.  This newly constructed building represents a first: it is the first congregate supportive housing project built by RSS, a Network member with a long history of providing mental health housing and the very first OMH congregate supportive housing in the entire Capital Region, between Saratoga  and Westchester Counties.

New York State Budget Update

Apr.01.2015

The New York State SFY 2015-16 budget was passed early this morning, just a few hours after the April 1st deadline.  Most importantly the budget contains much good news for Network members continuing to build on several successful supportive housing initiatives. Unfortunately, the budget does not include a larger statewide supportive housing agreement. Over the next several weeks, the Network will begin a post-budget advocacy campaign for an expansion of the program.

Supportive Housing Providers Honored by the NY State Assembly

Mar.09.2015

Reverend Georgiette Morgan-Thomas of Goddard Riverside Community Center and Assembly Member Keith Wright.

The New York State Assembly honored outstanding supportive housing providers from around the state on March 3, 2015 as part of our second lobby day of the year, another joint effort with Homeless Services United.

Reverend Georgiette Morgan-Thomas of Goddard Riverside Community Center said, “it was an honor to represent those who cannot represent themselves yesterday; having witnessed the benefits of NY/NY I, II and III, I understand the necessity of NY/NY4, as well as the need to increase funding for services to our homeless population, and feel passionate about helping our legislators understand the need.  Being acknowledged and introduced to the entire Assembly for the work that I have done in housing was empowering and encouraging.” ​

The Network’s second Lobby Day of 2015 garners record turnout!

Mar.09.2015

Assembly Member Cathy Nolan with tenants and staff from Hour Children

The Network, along with Homeless Services United, brought a record group of 92 providers and tenants to Albany on March 3rd.  Our second lobby day was extremely productive – we had 42 meetings with legislators and staff.

The Network Lobbies in Albany

Feb.17.2015

Front row from left to right: The Network’s Edline Jacquet, Jeff Nemetsky –Brooklyn Housing & Community Services Inc., Senator Velmanette Montgomery, Samelys Lopez & Eric Herman –Common Ground. Back row from left to right: Kate Milkens – Lantern Community Services, Evelyn Rodriguez – BronxWorks, Janet Miller – CAMBA, Elizabeth Hoffman- Citizens’ Committee for Children of NY

The Network, along with HSU, brought a 75-person strong force to Albany on February 3rd to lobby for an expanded statewide NY/NY 4 agreement and budget increases for critical supportive housing and homelessness prevention programs. Here is a slideshow from the day -- feel free to share!

Schenectady Celebrates the Grand Opening of 845 Commons Residence

Feb.06.2015

Cutting the ribbon at 845 Commons residence in Schenectady

The Capital Region YMCA held a grand opening of the largest single site supportive housing residence west of the Hudson January 16th: 845 Commons in Schenectady.  This impressive project provides housing for 155 formerly homeless men, with a preference for both veterans and Schenectady County natives (all current tenants are from Schenectady County) as well as 25 apartments for individuals coping with a mental illness.