Categories: New York State, New York City, Network Events
06.09.2014
Campaign calls on New York City, State to form new supportive housing agreement
The crowd at the launch of Campaign 4 NY/NY Housing on May 28. Photo by Coalition for the Homeless.
The Network joined a crowd of more than 150 advocates on May 28 for the launch of Campaign 4 NY/NY Housing, a grassroots initiative to call on lawmakers to create a new New York/New York Supportive Housing Agreement.
This new coalition is urging Gov. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio to negotiate a City-State agreement to create 30,000 units of supportive housing over the next 10 years. To date, more than 150 organizations have signed on to the campaign’s platform. You can endorse the campaign by following this link. The Network is proud to have helped launch this campaign with such organizations as Coalition for the Homeless, CSH, Enterprise Community Partners and many, many others.
You can learn more about the Campaign 4 NY/NY Housing by reading these press highlights in Capital New York, New York Observer and The Real Deal.
A new City-State supportive housing agreement would follow up three successful agreements before it: NY/NY I in 1990, NY/NY II in 1999 and NY/NY III in 2005. With NY/NY III on track to complete all 9,000 units of supportive housing in just over 10 years, it’s imperative that the City and State create a new agreement to fund supportive housing. A new agreement would also serve as an essential tool in ending New York City’s current record levels of homelessness.
Last month’s rally took place on the steps of New York City Hall and included a number of guest speakers. Among them were Kristin Miller of CSH, Steve Coe of Community Access, Terry Troia of Project Hospitality, Mary Brosnahan of Coalition for the Homeless and the Network’s own Nicole Branca.
The event also hosted several brave testimonials. Supportive housing tenant Kendra Oke, youth supportive housing tenant Shamel Quiles and shelter client Kermit Jones all took the microphone to deliver calls to action.
“I’m praying every day that these 30,000 units will help me and other people,” Mr. Jones told the crowd.
A big thank-you to everyone who came out and joined us for the launch of Campaign 4 NY/NY Housing last month. We look forward to many more advocacy opportunities ahead.