Categories: New York City, Network Events
02.02.2026
On January 30th, the Network joined tenants nominated for the Network’s 2025 Outstanding Neighbor of the Year award with supportive housing staff at Raymour and Flannigan Furniture Store and Studio for a celebratory breakfast.
Every year the Network honors outstanding neighbors of the year at our Annual Awards Gala. At the nominee breakfast, we celebrate and honor the incredible nominees who have exhibited resilience, self-empowerment, growth and while living in supportive housing and have made a difference in their supportive housing residence, amongst their fellow neighbors and/or larger community. We also provided tenants with a certificate of recognition for their achievements.
Network Executive Director Pascale Leone kicked off the program. To the nominated tenants she said, “Please know this: when you share your stories, they don’t just end with you. They ripple outward, inspiring others, reminding us all of why this work is so important, and why every milestone deserves to be celebrated. You deserve to be celebrated.”
Helen Taylor, 2025 Outstanding Neighbor of the Year Honoree provided remarks, “I came form a world of darkness, thanks to Fortune Society I am alive. I got my freedom and I’m grateful for that.” Helen added, “You are nominated today so continue to do what you are doing.”
Tenants and staff had space to speak to their experiences, moving and encouraging everyone in the room:
Aristotle Karassavidis, tenant with The Center for Urban Community Services said, “Thank all of you who stand before me. You are the heart of this foundation.”
Clifton Clark, tenant with Breaking Ground, said, “I’m a singer, writer, poet, and I fell short. My self-esteem went low. I felt like giving up but God gave me the talent to use. In order to get rid of a habit I had to drop it. If I don’t pick it up, I don’t use it. Now I have keys to my own apartment.”
Desia Sierra, tenant with Mercy Haven, said, “I am deeply grateful for the opportunity that I have to be in supportive housing. Desperation calls for inspiration. We all come from darkness at one time or another. We’re all one and we all need that special boost.”
Dr. Rebecca Canty, Program Director with Comunilife, said, “I’ve traveled the same roads that you have. It feels so good to be in this room with you all. You guys need to give yourself a standing ovation.”
Laura Del Gaudio, tenant with Baltic Street Wellness Solutions, said, “Baltic Street, from the first day I called, they found me an apartment. I wrote a book about my experiences and graduated college Cum Laude. I want to thank everyone here for being who you are.”
Pearl Durham, tenant with Goddard Riverside said, “I was homeless since the age of 16. I came back to New York for help. There were so many programs that many people don’t take advantage of. It was hard for me to admit that I needed help. I’m grateful for the struggles. You need the struggles to look back on for who you are today.”
Christine Arif, tenant with Staten Island Behavioral Network said, “My adopted forever family is SIBN. I’ve been on my own since I was 14. God put an angel on earth and there are angels here. She gave me a reason to live. It’s not the furniture and the house, it’s the people that make it a home.”
Zebulon Ely, tenant with Transitional Services of New York (TSI), said, “Your journey, like my journey, qualifies each and everyone of you as a miracle. My little footprint in this universe is very small. My ultimate goal is to give a gift back at TSI to make room for the next person.”
Carlton Bussey, tenant with Urban Pathways, said, “I’ve been working as a case manager for 26 years and ended up homeless. I thank God for two lifestyles at one lifetime. When I walked through the doors it says supportive housing and it says transitional and I wanted to transition into something better. I always wanted to go to college and I graduated during COVID.”
Edward Allen, tenant with The Doe Fund, said, “I want to thank the Doe Fund. I show my gratitude by speaking for people and telling them my experience so that way I can help someone else. It’s been a rough road, it’s been a joyous, joyous road. I give back and I cherish this thing called recovery.”
Congratulations to the incredible neighbor of the year nominees and thank you for being such a source of light in your communities and for sharing your stories with us all. Thank you to the supportive housing staff who recognized their tenants and show up for them day in and out.
Thank you to our amazing hosts and new Network member, Raymour and Flannigan, for the generous hosting, providing the beautiful event space to honor the honorees.
See photos from the event here.