Categories: New York State, Member News, Openings
04.17.2019
Thirty new units of supportive housing open for residents in the Village of Geneseo.
On March 14th, city, county, and state officials joined Network member DePaul to celebrate the opening of the Skybird Landing Apartments in Geneseo, a National Historic Landmark Village in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Named to honor Geneseo’s National Warplane Museum, Skybird Landing consists of 60 affordable and supportive one- and two-bedroom apartments spread across six new buildings.
DePaul President Mark Fuller was on hand at the opening, elaborating on the impressive collaboration across sectors that was required at every step of the way to the apartments’ completion: “Skybird Landing is an example of progress and partnership in action.”
Brett Hebner, Director of Housing for the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) praised the partnership of local, state, and nonprofit stakeholders: “We seek out communities where there are areas of need and work with the community to bring concepts to reality,” he said. “We at OMH would not have much effect without the dedication and service of an agency like DePaul.”
The speaking program also featured Leonard Skrill, Upstate Director of Development for the NYS Office of Housing and Community Renewal (HCR); Michele Anuszkiewicz, Director of the Livingston County Mental Health/Community Services; and Amy Pollard, President of Noyes Health.
Anuszkiewicz and Pollard’s remarks emphasized in various ways how Skybird Landing reflected a better version of public health for those who most needed it, with services wrapped into residents’ communities, and acknowledged the importance of stable housing as a social determinant of health.
Tours were held for all attendees to see Skybird Landing’s six two-story, wood-frame apartments including a community room, lounges, computer lab, laundry room, shared outdoor space, and office areas for the supportive housing units. The apartments are embedded with local history and decorated inside with motifs of historic planes and aircraft.
Onsite services centered on job training and promoting stability, health and independent living are funded through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI). HCR funding includes federal and state Low Income Housing Tax Credits and support from the Supportive Housing Opportunity Program and Rural Area Revitalization Program; OMH and the NYS Energy Research and Development Authority are also funders. The apartments represent another project of the Governor’s Finger Lakes Forward initiative.