Categories: New York State, Openings
03.05.2014
First supportive housing residence for high-cost Medicaid users in New York
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.”
OTDA Commissioner Kristen Proud added, “We are pleased to partner with Providence Housing Development Corporation in this important endeavor to develop 21 supportive housing units. These are the first units to have been developed with Medicaid Redesign Team housing funds administered by OTDA. We look forward to the positive results in the lives of the tenants and in terms of savings in public resources.”
Last month’s festivities began with remarks from several friends of the supportive housing community. The event was hosted by Providence Housing Development Corporation, the project’s developer, and drew roughly 60 guests from across the state. Three Son House tenants also spoke at the event.
In addition to funding from OTDA, Son House Apartments received funding from HCR, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, First Niagara and the NYS Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
Catholic Family Center, also a Network member, provides the on-site support services at the residence. SWBR Architects and LECESSE Construction Services served as the architect and contractor, respectively.
“We’re thrilled to have witnessed the ribbon cutting for Son House Apartments, the first Upstate New York residence built with Medicaid money,” said Steve Piasecki, the Network’s Upstate Member Services Coordinator. “This project is further proof that supportive housing can achieve two remarkable goals: It can both improve the quality of life of formerly homeless New Yorkers, and it can save taxpayer dollars through reduced Medicaid spending. This is a win-win worth celebrating.”
We’d like to congratulate Providence Housing and the entire development team on the grand opening of this wonderful residence. We look forward to many more openings thanks in part to Governor Cuomo and the Medicaid Redesign Team!