Categories: New York City, Network Events
12.11.2019
2019 Tenant of the Year Breakfast celebrates extraordinary supportive housing tenants.
Tenants who’d been nominated as 2019 Supportive Housing Tenants of the Year gathered with the caseworkers who’d nominated them for the Network’s annual Award Breakfast December 3rd, which was held at HELP USA’s Genesis Residence.
The event was a celebration of these incredible tenants and the work they’ve done to utilize supportive housing to its fullest capacity to better their lives. In addition to receiving award certificates those nominated shared their stories about what supportive housing has meant to them, and caseworkers talked about their experiences.
“I felt alone all my life no one ever sat down and taught me about life. I was kicked out of my adopted home at 17. I was on my own. I was about to give up but when I found Supportive Housing. My case manager showed me two things: she showed me I had a voice that I can talk and she would listen, which I never had before — AND to look to other tenants to help each other out. Other tenants aren’t all as lucky as us. We can inspire each other.”
“I never knew supportive housing existed before…I knew nothing but how to stay alive…. I believed I’d die outside,”
“You are all my superhero – supportive housing brought me back to life”
“Supportive housing should be the City’s number one priority.”
Case managers also weighed in expressing intense admiration for the brave individuals they work with and the incredibly hard work they do of building new lives in supportive housing.
Tenants were especially grateful about the special relationships they have with their case managers. “She is my rock,” said one. And our personal favorite: “She is my jet pack.”
Thanks to our hosts HELP USA for lending us the beautiful space and thanks again to the tenants and case managers who participated. You are OUR jet pack.