Newsfeed Category: Openings

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.

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.”

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.

Son House Apartments Opens in Rochester

Mar.05.2014

Partners and tenants gather for the ceremonial ribbon cutting at Son House Apartments in Rochester on February 24.

The first supportive housing residence for high-cost Medicaid recipients to open in New York State had its grand opening February 24 in Rochester. Called Son House Apartments in honor of the legendary blues musician Son House, who both made Rochester his home for many years and experienced homelessness, the residence will provide housing and supports to 21 individuals coping with both homelessness and medical or behavioral disabilities.

Son House Apartments was developed by Network member Providence Housing Development Corporation with the Office of Temporary & Disability (OTDA) Homeless Housing and Assistance Program Medicaid Redesign Team (MRT) Capital Funds Program. To date, HHAP has awarded MRT funding to six projects across New York.

The opening featured a number of luminaries, including NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) Commissioner Darryl C. Towns, NYS Senator Joe Robach, NYS Homeless Housing and Assistance Corporation (HHAC) Vice President Brett Hebner and Rochester Mayor Lovely A. Warren.

“The true measure of city’s greatness must include a reckoning of how its citizens treat their most vulnerable neighbors,” Mayor Warren said. “As a place of both shelter and support for our homeless residents, the Son House Apartments project is helping Rochester rise to yet another level of greatness.”

Housing Works Opens Doors at Jefferson Ave. Residence

Dec.16.2013

Dozens of supporters gathered last Friday to celebrate the opening of Jefferson Avenue Residence, a 12-unit supportive housing residence in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bedford Stuyvesant.

Attendees braved below-freezing temps to hear from the project’s partners and witness the ceremonial ribbon cutting just outside the building. Jefferson Ave. brings the total number of supportive housing units from Housing Works, the versatile NYC nonprofit known for its commitment to individuals with HIV/AIDS, to 214 units.

Twelve formerly homeless New Yorkers will soon have a place to live thanks to this $3 million development. The residence will house individuals coping with both mental illness and chemical addiction (MICA). A preference will be given to individuals who also have HIV/AIDS.

In addition to their very own studio apartments, tenants will have access to an array of on-site social services, including case management, health care and life skills classes. Housing Works hopes to have the building rented up within the next few weeks.

Last week's outdoor ceremony was a quick one given the frigid weather. Housing Works President Charles King began the morning with some words on the importance of Jefferson Avenue Residence.

“This building is a testament to something we say all the time: that housing works. That housing is healthcare. That housing is HIV prevention,” Mr. King said.

Ribbon Cutting Held for Navy Green

Nov.01.2013

More than 200 people gathered on October 31 to celebrate the development of Navy Green, a massive new mixed-income, market rate and supportive housing development in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Wallabout.

The event marked the end of the first phase of development. This initial phase includes two mixed-income multifamily buildings and a 97-unit supportive housing residence. Once completed, Navy Green will enliven an entire city block with five residences and an expansive courtyard and garden. The final project will include a diverse mix of housing types and income levels, from market-rate townhouses to supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals.

The supportive housing residence, 40 Vanderbilt Ave., houses 59 formerly homeless and 38 low-income individuals. The formerly homeless tenants are all housed through funding from the NY/NY III Agreement.

Thursday’s ribbon-cutting was a who’s-who of New York supportive housing. Martin Dunn of Dunn Development Corporation and Deb Howard of Pratt Area Community Council served as the masters of ceremonies for the morning event. The two welcomed the crowd and introduced an impressive slate of guest speakers. Both hosts stressed the public-private-nonprofit partnership that helped make Navy Green a reality and the historic nature of the building site, which had previously been abandoned.

CAMBA Holds Ribbon Cutting for 97 Crooke Ave.

Oct.11.2013

A capacity crowd gathered yesterday to celebrate the grand opening of CAMBA’s newest supportive housing residence. 

97 Crooke Avenue, also known as the Reverend Dan Ramm Residence, brings 53 units of supportive and low-income housing to the Brooklyn neighborhood of Flatbush. This $15.3 million development now houses a mix of formerly homeless adults who suffer from mental illness and low-income individuals from the community.

Yesterday’s festivities were distinctive and unique in several ways. Before entering the nine-story residence, attendees noshed on high-quality, organic donuts from a food truck parked just outside the residence.

Once inside, the roughly 100 guests heard the story of 97 Crooke Ave., a residence that brought many disparate partners together in the name of providing housing and support services to formerly homeless and low-income New Yorkers. 

Joanne Oplustil, CAMBA President/CEO and a Network Board Member, introduced each of the day’s guest speakers. NYS Rep. Rhoda Jacobs was the first to take the podium to congratulate and praise CAMBA.

“We know that decent, affordable housing is less costly to society than shelters, and yet we struggle for resources,” said Rep. Jacobs. “Fortunately, we have a warrior in Joanne.”

Grand Opening Held for Vyse Ave.

Oct.03.2013

Forty staff, partners and tenants gathered on October 2 for the official grand opening of Vyse Avenue Apartments, the latest Community Access supportive housing residence in the Crotona Park section of the Bronx. The building provides homes to 64 individuals with psychiatric disabilities and a history of homelessness. 

The festivities were casual and family-like, with Community Access CEO Steve Coe welcoming the organization’s Board Member Ramesh Shah to the podium. Mr. Shah thanked all the partners who made the residence possible, including the community that welcomed the building – and its tenants – into the neighborhood. Mr. Coe followed up these remarks by noting that Vyse Avenue had been the easiest of the organization’s dozen permanent supportive housing buildings to site. 

“We were told to meet with Bronx Desperadoes and it turned out the Executive Director’s mother had been involved with the mental health system, so he couldn’t have been more welcoming,” Mr. Coe said.

Steve then showed a short film that the National Equity Fund (NEF) and TD Bank had made about Vyse Avenue. The video, which you can watch below, features building tenant Katherine Brown. 

Mosholu Gardens Opens in the Bronx

Sep.13.2013

Some 50 staff, partners and supporters gathered on the roof of Mosholu Gardens to celebrate the opening of Acacia Network’s first supportive housing residence on September 12. This eight-story new construction overlooks Mosholu Parkway and provides 63 efficiency apartments for a mix of homeless and low-income individuals. 

Ralph Declet, Acacia Network’s Vice President of Economic Development, acted as master of ceremonies for the day’s event. Mr. Declet introduced Acacia Network CEO Raul Russi and Board Chair Milagros Baez O’Toole, both of whom marveled at the beauty of the building and the teamwork that brought it into being. Jessica Katz, Assistant Commissioner for Special Needs Housing at the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), thanked NYC Council Member Oliver Koppell and the members of Community Board 7 who supported the project. She also took a moment to point out that, although HPD had been able to make good on its commitments to this project, the department lost $42 million in Section 8 funding this year due to sequestration.

“Next time we might not be so lucky,” she said.

Providence House Holds Grand Opening for its First Supportive Housing Residence

May.13.2013

On one of the year's most beautiful days -- May 10 -- friends and supporters of Providence House's first supportive/affordable housing residence gathered for the opening of the D'Addario Residence in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. The joyous occasion came a stunning seven years after the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) first approached Providence House with the City-owned property. The location, formerly an empty lot, is now home to 46 individuals and small families, many of whom have struggled with homelessness.

Sister Janet Kinney, Providence House's Executive Director, was among several of the day's speakers. Joining her were NYS Rep. Annette Robinson and representatives for NYS Sen. Velmanette Montgomery, NYC Councilman Albert Vann and Community Board 3 Chair Henry Butler. Sister Helen Marie Kearney gave the invocation.

HPD Assistant Commissioner Jessica Katz recalled an incident during Sister Janet's first visit to their offices. Upon entering the building, security found, of all things, a pocket knife on Sister Janet.

"We knew she was trouble from the start," Ms. Katz joked.